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For a while now I’ve had a great job: teaching at a small college. The job doesn’t make me rich, but it makes me feel wealthy, IYKWIM. I’m in a small town, a rural state, a small school with diverse students. This is a good place to teach.
This morning I’m reflecting on other jobs I could imagine doing joyfully as an act of gratitude for my job and students, and as a way of preparing to return to teaching shortly. Here are a few:
(1) Grant administrator at a non-profit foundation focused on mutual flourishing. (Obvious drawback: people ask you for money all the time. Obvious benefit: you get to empower good work by granting that money.)
(I’m currently administering a small sustainability grant at my uni, one that allows me to empower good work by others. I love seeing what others do with the small resources I get to offer them.)
(2) Teacher of philosophy in a non-academic context, e.g. to corporations, or to kids (but without grading). This one has a lot of appeal. Good news: my current job allows me to dabble in it, and it’s rewarding in many ways. (Doesn’t currently pay bills, though.)
(3) Biomimicry researcher focused on fish, insects, engineering, and fluid dynamics. (Drawbacks: I’m autodidact, so uncredentialed in a world that adores credentials; and dabbling doesn’t pay. Upside of current job: Environmental philosophers can dabble in this all we want.)
(4) Full-time writer with a cabin near fish, trees, salt water. (Main drawback: My wife would likely only visit me infrequently. Also, lonely death a real possibility. Upside: I have dabbled with this in the Arctic (tent, not cabin) and Caribbean. Impoverishing but wonderful.)
(5) Research fellow at a uni with a rich library. (Drawbacks: Too many to list. Upside: already did this briefly at Oxford. Great books, pubs, lodging, architecture, etc - but often with peculiar culture. I think I prefer the Arctic.)
(6) Street pastor who offers free chai, chairs, conversation to all who want it. (Drawbacks: hard to pay the bills, but St Francis made it work so whatevs. Also, people are weird sometimes. Upsides: Too many to list, but see above: chai, chairs, conversation.)
(7) Environmental lawyer. (Drawbacks: not really interested in sitting for the bar exam, or in more years of school right now. Upside: So much interesting and worthwhile intellectual work to be done here. I love reading law. *Might* enjoy practicing it. Not sure.)
(8) Stonemason. (Drawbacks: It’s hard work. Upsides: It’s hard work. I’ve done this on and off for decades, laying dry stone walls in NY, volunteering with @Habitat_org in Poland, doing improvements at an orphanage in Kathmandu, desigining stonework in SD. Hard but satisfying.)
I feel fortunate to have had so many interesting experiences and opportunities to work with my hands and to work with different communities. Everything I’ve done so far contributes to my teaching, both academic and non-academic.
For now, one of the best things about teaching is being able to tell stories about what I’ve seen and experienced. Those stories open up new possibilities for my students. And that is one of the best parts of being a teacher.
To my students, as you prepare for the new term: I grew up in a small town in the mountains of NY. I had no idea where life would bring me. I’d love to help you to find your calling, and to help you to do things that bring joy to you and to those you meet.
