The power of encouragement

[rebeccmeister]

The Visiting Scholars and Postdoc Association here continues to be a helpful asset for me. Last night, they sponsored a [pep] talk by a guy named Peter Fiske, author of a book titled Put Your Science to Work, about alt-academic careers. Talking to one of the VSPA workers, it sounds like they bring him in about once a year, to which I say, good.

It never ceases to amaze me how much it helps just to hear words of encouragement, especially after feeling beaten-down within the academic system. It's very easy to forget that this little academic universe is its own pernicious sort of bubble, and that in the real world I do, in fact, have a lot of useful and valuable skills and qualities.

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

Might buy this for a friend: thanks for pointing it out.

[trifold-flame.livejournal.com]

I've found my non-academic career turn to be real kick ass, that's for sure.