My Story, Leaving Academia & Burnout

MY STORY

THEN.

I had been a professor. As the child of immigrant parents who had less than a high school education, that was a big deal… It took several starts-first art school (dropped out,) work and figure things out, then state school, then transfer to my “dream college.” Finally I graduated; the first one in my family to attend college. I then got my masters in fine art. After years of part-time work: college teaching, work at MOMA in NYC and running around teaching yoga, I embarked on a months-long search for a “real” job, a full time job. I committed to moving wherever I had to in order to get one. I felt extremely lucky to be hired to teach studio art full time. What I didn’t know was the history of dysfunction I was walking into. Now I can see bullying behavior I experienced in academia in terms of a hazing process- to finally be able to join the “in” group.

At the urging of well meaning friends, family and even the administration I struggled on and did the tenure process. “See how you feel then,” they said. I got tenure, I also got diagnosed with “anxiety and depression.” After six years of a soul-grinding, hostile work environment I left the job. It was painful staying and leaving. I had no plan but to just dive into the unknown with a deep sense of trust. In the terrible economy of 2008 I packed up my little Hyundai to the brim. I arrived at a hill-town in western Massachusetts, and hid out for months doing “house-sitting” in a little cabin in the woods.

At that point I was “homeless” now don’t get me wrong I never was sleeping over the warm subway grate on the sidewalk. I managed to avoid that. I have had some dramatic ups and downs since then-some good stories to tell. Looking back I realize my own resilience and can see the humor.

Back to About Page “Now” And the work that I do.