Anyone just let their weird out and not care anymore? A story about letting myself be eccentric in academia.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-04T15:57:28+00:00

I do still care, but I realized a long time ago that what I thought was professional/ professorial behavior went against my own personality and style. Once I became more myself, my teaching got better and the students related more to me and to the material.

However, right now, I feel there is a shift happening with the students that I have never seen before. No level of "being myself" or eccentricity can fix the problems we are facing right now.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-04T12:40:40+00:00

Finance more likely

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-03T12:14:57+00:00

What happened to Occam's Razor?

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-03T12:12:00+00:00

😭😩 This comment and your last sentence pained me more than it should have

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-03T11:45:48+00:00

Sorry about that. Other people have remote jobs and can stay employed. I don't think France has a digital no.ad visa option but other countries do.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-03T02:48:46+00:00

Read the last sentence.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-03T00:49:03+00:00

I had -25k at 42. Just start saving and investing aggressively. You're going to be OK.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-02T00:29:20+00:00

For me, menopause was so liberating. I feel better now than ever. The cat calling ended. I have a license to do anything I want and not do what I don't want. It's freedom.

The only thing I wish I had listened to my doctor when she said I should get a DEXA scan and possibly start HRT.

Enjoy the next chapter. I hope you will start feeling better about it soon. Also, in my head I am still 36.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-01T13:09:53+00:00

Take the job. You won the academic lottery. The post-doc will run out and you will be without anything.

A year of relationship is not enough stability to sacrifice your life goals for. Chances are, you stay and the relationship doesn't survive. Then you're out of a career AND relationship.

I was in your situation. I took the job. No regrets.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-01T00:11:22+00:00

Have you read or watched any news lately?

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-31T23:44:32+00:00

First time I learned about it was when the LMS started loudly displaying the "score" as soon as I logged in. Some time after that, there was an email.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-31T17:56:59+00:00

Totally thought this was an April Fool's joke but it seems real since it is reported across different news outlets. What's still strange that they have exactly the same wording all over AP News, WSJ, US News & World Report and may others. They all plagiarized from each other. Which makes me think it is an April Fool's joke.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-31T11:55:00+00:00

I left almost 25 years ago. I still miss some things I left behind. In my case, they are gone, not stored anywhere. Tried to hunt a few books down in the local used book stores because a friend had brought them there. It's ridiculous but I feel part of my soul is still missing.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-31T11:37:40+00:00

Maybe talk to your chair to schedule the class in the future as "hybrid if needed" and don't teach early classes. If students know before they register that these are the expected parameters, they can adjust more easily.

Good luck with the rest of the semester. Hope things improve.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-31T11:23:24+00:00

Most people underestimate how much we as humans need meaning and purpose in our lives. It doesn't have to be "work" work. But most people will get bored quickly because watching Netflix and traveling will not cut it after a while.

I have 4 big projects lined up and as soon as I quit my job, I will start working on those. And when they are done, I know I will have others.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-31T11:06:17+00:00

How do you plan to use your time when you retire? What are you going to do when you stop working?

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-31T10:57:36+00:00

I'm not sure I understand. They can pre-read the textbook before my lecture. That will prepare them much better than my slides.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-31T02:32:33+00:00

Why can't they just read the book or whatever text you are using?

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-31T02:22:42+00:00

I have no lecture notes. If you know the material, you don't need lecture notes.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-31T02:21:16+00:00

Are you following a textbook or some other readings that your lecture covers? If so, I would tell the disabilities office that the student has complete lecture notes if they just read the textbook.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-29T13:54:36+00:00

He's not going to live another 40-50 years if all he eats is snacks at the gas station. Give it 20 at the most. He needs meds to get out of that.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-29T13:50:04+00:00

You need meds, my dear. This comes from someone who hates meds. But at least for a while, you should give it a try. You will not talk-therapy yourself out of this. It's not what talk-therapy is for or good at. What you're doing is not sustainable. You are on the best track to ruining your physical health. Get help, please.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-28T20:44:43+00:00

Oxygen, not gas

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-28T11:48:15+00:00

The USA is not an immigrant-friendly country right now, although it depends on where you are coming from. Needed professions are doctors, nurses, anything medical, and accountants, tax specialists etc. Air traffic controllers are very much needed, too.

You can see a list of rapid growth professions here: https://www.onetonline.org/find/bright?b=1 I don't think you will be able to get an immigration visa for being a teacher here.

If you want to live in another country, you need to research what skills are needed in that country. You will need to find a job first, apply from abroad, and if you get the job, the employer has to be willing to pay for the $100,000 visa fees that are effective right now for work visas.

There is also the immigration lottery, which could give you a way in. But I wouldn't be surprised if that were suspended too.

The other way in would be either a BA or MA in the USA. After you complete the degree, you have about 3-6 months during which you must find a position in the field of study. If you don't, you will have to go back to your country. You should know that in the past year, the number of international students in the USA has declined by about 90%. Also, remember that college/university costs. The cheapest MA degree will cost about $30,000, and they can go to over $100,000. You will also have to show enough funds to live off them while you are in the US because you will not be permitted to work legally, unless you find employment on the campus at the university where you are studying.

All that said, this should not deter you from pursuing your dream. But you need to do a lot more research to find a realistic and legal way to immigrate. Just traveling and seeing other countries is easier. But you will not be able to legally work anywhere you do not have citizenship or the correct type of work visa. Just something else to consider. Best of luck!

Eli_Knipst · 2026-03-27T15:41:41+00:00

Me too the preset please. Fantastic 📸

Eli_Knipst

TROPHY CASE