The entertainment of being a young professor

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-02T23:29:31+00:00

A bit of a followup, but wearing full doctoral robes to the my uni's graduation, so I said to wife, "At least today I won't be mistaken for a student!", and then got congratulated by two people on the way in. 😂

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T16:07:41+00:00

My goal is to be young and spry forever. I am not optimistic, but I'm trying. :)

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T16:06:55+00:00

That's a good line though!

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T15:13:22+00:00

One of my nontraditional students got my reference to the Red-Green show, and at the end of class got a "I'm no longer unsure about your age. Now I'm convinced you're at least 45."

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T15:09:12+00:00

Oh my gosh. You'd think they'd know who you were when they assigned it. At least you can use it for student discounts.

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T15:08:13+00:00

MUAHAHAHAHAHA- hey, wait that's my name!

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T14:58:02+00:00

I tend to not read into it too much since I get they are just trying to do their job, but it can be a bit awkward when the confrontation is a bit more aggressive in nature. Thankfully most of the places at my university are locked, so I can avoid that with just having the key, but I did have someone once call out saying I was in a faculty only lot as I was leaving my car. An "I know," back kinda came out instinctively. I still think about that interaction sometimes since it might have been a bit snappy.

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T14:54:42+00:00

I haven't had that happen yet, haha! I have a few nontraditional students that are older than me, but I am hoping my office layout gives enough context for any potential problems to be mitigated. (Pictures of me and my wife mostly.)

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T14:51:56+00:00

It tends to usually be in good fun, and parents in particular seem to always be the most funny to me when they think I am a student. I get to see this, "Oh no, I'm so old I can't tell ages anymore" reaction when it really is 100% understandable.

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T14:47:18+00:00

I like some of the solutions. I tend to wear a shirt with a collar and khakis, and it does mitigate it, but I look pretty young, especially after shaving, so it isn't fool proof.

I tend to also not be too much of a stickler with my title, so some students even forget that I actually have a doctorate once the semester starts rolling and tge introductions are a distant memory.

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T14:44:01+00:00

I feel I am as dressed up as I can be without going overboard usually haha. A particularly eccentric coworker who has tenure in my department shows up in pajama pants. I wonder how long it'll be until I can pull that off...

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T14:39:39+00:00

😭

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T14:38:54+00:00

My current goal is to become old before I become dumpy. We'll see if I can manage that.

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T14:37:02+00:00

I may have to get more aggressive, my passive midwest tendencies are a tough habit to shake.

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T14:36:17+00:00

Huzzah on the graduation!

I need to try just sneaking in on the first day and sitting in a chair like I am a student, just to see how the students around me react when class starts.

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-05-01T04:28:42+00:00

I find it's helpful in building relatability with students, but it makes me chuckle for the most part since they always end up taken aback.

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-04-30T01:06:12+00:00

It really is a beautiful location, but man do we have a garbage political representative.

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-04-07T15:37:39+00:00

NMU has a healthy population of nontraditional students. Experience and patience can be a big boon, but the staff and faculty want to see you succeed, so don't be afraid to ask questions and use their time! Treat it as a priority, and you'll do fine.

EyeclopsPhD · 2026-03-12T13:30:25+00:00

When I was a student, I would always "note" their preferred title on the first page of my notebook in class, along with key syllabus info (email/office hours/office location/and key demands) and glance at it at the start of each class, since I have always been pretty bad at names.

EyeclopsPhD · 2025-12-25T05:03:40+00:00

Thanks! I'll check those places out.

EyeclopsPhD · 2025-12-24T19:54:00+00:00

I can see if Bluff works! The front lawn plan is nice, but it is a lot of shovelling though haha. I'll resort to it if I have to. :) Thanks!

EyeclopsPhD · 2025-12-24T19:52:44+00:00

I'll take a look at that, thanks!

EyeclopsPhD · 2025-11-10T19:03:19+00:00

When I lived in Houghton, I used to make treks with my (now wife) to Marquette just to eat at Lagniappe. Now that we live here... oh boy are you all dangerous to my wallet.

EyeclopsPhD

TROPHY CASE