When reading Rani Neutill's "How to Leave Academia" and Takeyama's "Opening the Box", I was able to empathize with a lot of what was being said. As Neutill explained, there is a lot of elitism that comes with higher education. Occupations such as being a waitress are often frowned upon, especially with someone who is deemed more qualified. However, Neutill realizes that she had learned more in that work environment than her higher education environment has ever taught her. Furthermore, she explains that graduate school rarely prepares us for other tracks, which I found an useful thing to know as someone who is planning to go to graduate school in the future. It is quite daunting to know that years and years of education would not necessarily mean I would get a "pay-off".
As an international student, I found a lot of Takeyama's "Opening the Box" relatable. For example, Takeyama mentions how difficult it is to assimilate as an international student into the home culture of a nation. As an international professor, Takeyama has had to face a different set of discrimination than students would have to (for example an increase in academic misconduct). I found this reading to be rather cautionary as someone who wants to be a professor.
Sources
AKIKO TAKEYAMA. Opening the BoxAn International Asian Woman Scholar’s Fight
RANI NEUTILL. How to Leave Academia
RANI NEUTILL. How to Leave Academia
No comments:
Post a Comment