I don’t see anything inherently bad about my self -described status as a “workaholic.” It is simply the way things are in my reality. I opt to take the maximum credits allowed every semester. I choose to do a complete overhaul and redesign of the college newspaper simply because I’m editor, and in some warped way feel it’s my duty. I am almost never online with less that four tabs open on my browser, because to do one thing at a time would be a waste when I can do so much more. Throughout the entirety of the school year, I watch my classmates and colleagues get away with doing minimal work, so I know it’s possible to be marginally successful on such a path, but for some reason, I just can’t allow myself to follow in their footsteps. Instead, I’m that kid who will go nights without sleep so that I can do every page of the reading, every review question and if I feel the need re-write my paper for the fifth or sixth time, when I know the first could have been a B.

So what does a person like me do during the summer when there is no homework to be done, no papers to write, no more newspaper chores to do, nothing to work on? What do I do when all the journal submissions and conference proposals have been sent off, and I am just waiting for responses, for requests for revision? Quite simply, I go crazy. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: employment, labeling, students