So this years round of faculty applications are starting and that is beginning to cause a huge amount stress. For those of you who don't know - the number of qualified applicants in most science/engineering fields is at least 10 times the number of available faculty positions (often more). So as you can imagine I am starting to question if I want to stay in Science/Academia. And, I realized that I am hitting a wall that a lot people hit when they grow up. I have been told my whole life I am unique and special, but this faculty application process is hitting me over the head with the realization that I am only one of 7 billion unique and special people. Now I realize that I am unique and special (you can't over use "That's what she said" as much as I do without being special), but when you are in a tough job market and you have been applying for jobs as much as I have (one of these days I will have to vent about how much the two-body post-doc experience sucks) every time you submit another application with no idea what is going to happen your stress goes up and your self esteem goes down. The problem isn't being unique and special enough. It is advertizing, announcing, and fighting for your unique/special self (while working a 100+ hour job). So basically it is yet another thing that in modern (American) society the you have to master to be a successful adult. You don't just need to know how to be the best scientific programmer / ab initio scientist for materials surfaces and interfaces, but you also have to be an expert in (self) advertising, searching the web for positions, as well as the medical, investment/financial, technology (which I must admit is fun for me), and insurance experts necessary to not be screwed in a modern society.
So in short, I have decided to travel the world with my six shooter and Samurai sword. Living the stress-free life of a lone nomadic hero whistling off tune and riding into the sunset. Well at least until my wife cracks her whip and I come running.
So in short, I have decided to travel the world with my six shooter and Samurai sword. Living the stress-free life of a lone nomadic hero whistling off tune and riding into the sunset. Well at least until my wife cracks her whip and I come running.
