At some point over the last year I decided it was time to become a student again myself. Like a for-real, back-to-college student. And so I did.
Because I am a mom, and a spouse, and an adjunct, and I run a writing group and a publishing company, I decided to go to school through a low-residency program. And I’d decided to become a psychologist/therapist/counselor, whatever you prefer to call it.
From January through May 1st, in addition to teaching about 13 classes at 4 different colleges, I also took 3 classes online through the one community college where I teach, to get my undergrad psychology requirements. And then I signed up for a low-res MA psych program, and then I spent about 12 days at the low-res program in the middle of March.
And now I have quit school and decided not to be a student.
WTH girl?
Well, before I sound like a complete idiot… I had my reasons.
You might not realize it, but to be an adjunct professor, traveling from school to school, can be very very exhausting. Add to that the fact that I always get stuck teaching essay writing, which requires a load of unpaid time spent grading essays, and I end up pretty worn out by the end of the semester. So, thought I, why not switch careers? It would only be my 4th or so time doing it; no big deal, and I am good at school.
However, I realized, after I spent 2 weeks in Vermont at school, and many weeks taking psych courses and buying and reading psych texts, that I just don’t want to do that.
What I want to do, is to be a writer, and a publisher.
I don’t know what is so difficult about this “being a writer” thing that I keep trying to dodge it.
I do know that I want to believe in myself, and work hard, for myself, and run a great publishing company that really help’s older writers find an audience.
And so, I am going to keep being an adjunct for now, and I am going to force myself to be the writer/author I want to be, to finish my damn novel, and to run my damn company, Devil’s Party Press.
What do you do to avoid pursuing your dream? Why do you do it?
