Another Direction...

So, I guess it's time for the official blog announcement: I have decided what I want to do next year, where I want to go. And it's not Boston College, Brown, or Ohio. For me to have this much foresight about my life is fairly amazing. The dream has changed, it has changed significantly, and here it is...

I'm going back to Maryland to teach high school English.

I shall wait for the gasps to cease before I continue. Settle, people, settle.

I'm done with Academia. I can't imagine doing it for another five year to get my Phd, let alone the rest of my life. I love taking classes and learning new things. And, luckily, I can continue to do this the rest of my life outside of the crazy little world of Academia.

I also want to do something with my life, something that contributes to the world. Now, while I'm young and optimistic. Idealistic, even. Not yet jaded. I want to do more than write papers about obscure Victorian topics that are only read by other Phds. I've read a lot of the stuff written on George Eliot, and you know what? I'm okay with the inventory. The topics have been covered. I have nothing new to add.

But teaching high school: that makes an impact on the world. I think one of the greatest 'gifts' I was given in my middle and high school years was the love of reading and writing. Okay, I'm sure it was already in me somewhere, but it was brought out and nutured by some pretty extraordinary teachers: Ms. Winters, Mr. Jira, Mrs. Ikler, just to name a few.

I also, to my tremendous and continuing surprise, want to grow up a little. I want a real job and a real salary. I want to be part of an adult community instead of just on the outskirts. Really. This feeling shocks the hell out of me. I never thought I'd want this, but I do.

In the grand, master plan, the teaching is not forever. In the grand, master plan, I write as much as I can during the school year and constantly during my summers off. And I eventually become a published writer and then a famous, well-paid published writer, and then, finally, a famous, well-paid published writer who writes all day. But this will be after I've put my time in and served my community as a teacher. And, who knows? Maybe I'll want to keep teaching and just publish a little more slowly.

And there's something about Maryland. I love living in New York City, and I will continue to love it for my last nine months or so here. But Maryland calls me home.

So that's it. Get your NYC visits in while you can, 'cuz I'm not staying for long. That's the new life plan. Just the fact that I have a plan and am not throwing myself onto the various winds of fate and whimsy is in itself encouraging.