Dear Academia,
This is year-two on tenure track. I am already behind in meeting writing goals, lesson plans for my courses, professional applications, and getting that next grant out. You reminded me earlier this week that you have very high expectations and with those expectations come yearly cycles of rejection. While you do not seem emotionally available nor offer unconditional love to most of us that come from marginalized backgrounds, I have a few words for you regarding year two. Year one I survived, and year two I am all about thriving.
This is my daily grind and love letter to you. Why?
Because you need to sit with your discomfort and understand the daily contradictions I live as a woman of color engaged in a relationship with you!
4:30am: It’s wake up time! My alarm rings, I chug a bottle of water, wash my face, brush my teeth, and I am out of the door.
5:00am: Workout begins with some fellow teachers and academics in the room. We all nod to one another in exhaustion as our summer workout time was 9:30am. The academic year has officially started and the bags under our eyes are evidence. Last year I allowed for you to hurt my physical well-being by gaining 15 pounds. I shredded it this summer and I refuse to compromise it this year! I can feel the stark pain growing in my chin from running on the treadmill. Time for new running shoes.
5:30am: Unread text.
