musings of a 20 something life times of an adjunct cheapcollegehealthinsurancestudent com
Hello all. I realize I tend to not update my blog as often as I should...in my defense, these last couple of weeks have been absolutely insane.cheap college health insurance student Between teaching my winter intersession course, prepping classes for the semester, and working my third job, I don't have a lot of extra time. The extra time I do have has been spent sitting on Mr. H's couch watching movies that were made before I was born.cheap college health insurance student
For those of you who don't know, this year, I've managed to patch together a living as an adjunct faculty member at a couple of different universities.cheap college health insurance student I have my MA in history, and I decided to take a year off before I went back for my PhD (which I am going to do, more about that in a later post). Being an adjunct has a variety of drawbacks...cheap college health insurance student the two biggest ones are:
1) No benefits
Being an adjunct, as opposed to a full-time faculty member,cheap college health insurance student I'm not offered any benefits¨Cpaid time off, health insurance, retirement, faculty development funds, whatever. If I don't teach,cheap college health insurance student I don't get paid. I understand why universities do this. It makes sense; adjuncting work is temporary, and a university should not have to provide expensive benefits to temporary workers.
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2) Low Pay
Adjuncts are notorious for receiving low pay. Again...cheap college health insurance student this makes sense. But it's sad. In order for me to pay my bills, which include a car payment, auto and health insurance, cell phone,cheap college health insurance student student loans, and credit card payments from when I was young and stupid (note that "rent" or "utilities" isn't listed here¨CI don't make enough to live on my own; I live with my parents), I have to teach at 2 different schools and work a part-time, minimum-wage job. Last semester, I taught 9 hours and worked about 20 hours/week at my part-time job.cheap college health insurance student I just barely broke even. This semester, I'm teaching 15 hours and (so far) averaging about 25 hour/week at my part-time job. Hopefully, this will help me get ahead a little.
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Having to teach (because I do have to¨Cyes, I have the option to say no, but if I say no, I can't pay my bills,cheap college health insurance student so I'm stuck) so much means my schedule is insane. Last week, between my part-time job, hours I spent in class, and time for class prep, I worked 90 hours.cheap college health insurance student Sure, I may be, as the ladies in my church choir say, "Young and able to handle it"¨Cbut I don't want to get burned out on teaching before I'm actually a full-time faculty member. I only manage to have a social life (something which I need to remain a normal 20-something..cheap college health insurance student .) because I sacrifice sleep.
So,cheap college health insurance student what keeps me sane? First and foremost is the fact that, even with all the problems I've described, I love my job. I really do. I love teaching, I love my students,cheap college health insurance student I love the feel of academia...and I love being at a teaching college. I love the challenges..cheap college health insurance student .this semester, I'm teaching both the first and second halves of Western Civ, US Since 1877, and Freshman English. I love the rewards of teaching¨Cthe light that goes on in someone's eyes,cheap college health insurance student the knowledge that I've shared something I love with a group of people.
But all that's a little idealistic, no? So,cheap college health insurance student here are some concrete things that keep this overworked adjunct sane:
1) Working Out
I'm kind of a gym rat. Why? Not because I'm particularly worried about my weight (although that is a nice benefit¨Cfinally have lost/toned the Freshman 35 I gained in college),cheap college health insurance student but because it makes me breathe. Cardio, weights, Pilates, Yoga..cheap college health insurance student .I don't care. If I don't exercise, I'm more likely to get sick, to get stressed, to snap at people.cheap college health insurance student ..everything bad.
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2) Time with Friends
Lunch, coffee, movies, whatever..cheap college health insurance student .it may end up as time spent complaining, but it's important that I take that time away from my work. Plus, I always have to eat..cheap college health insurance student .better to do it with a friend than alone.
3) My colleagues
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I don't care what anybody says...I have the greatest colleagues in the world. They have done their best to make me feel included, to support me when students have challenged my authority,cheap college health insurance student and to work with me to make me a better teacher. That support is invaluable.
Making a living as an adjunct is,cheap college health insurance student in a word, insane. In several words: probably a bad idea. But for a year, in my mid-twenties, as I try to get the rest of my life together? I think it'll probably turn out to be okay.cheap college health insurance student.