My stay at N1 is coming to an end. Packers and movers will move my household tomorrow. I plan to leave the day after, spend an evening with a very dear friend and colleague and fly out to New1-city after that.
Planning and coordinating the move has been very smooth this time. After a couple more signatures on my no dues form, I will be good to go!
I was going through some of the initial posts on this blog about my excitement at joining N1. I have spent a little more than two years here and have learnt a lot. At the time of joining, I did not anticipate that I will move. I imagined that I will live "happily ever after" at N1, but now realize that one cannot predict the future in such certain terms. My experience here has been mostly very positive. I feel privileged for getting a chance to teach motivated and sincere students, work with talented and energetic colleagues and serve the institute.
I hope that my experience at N1 can enable me to do a much better job at New1. The three most crucial lessons I have learnt during my stay here are
1) the importance of time management to balance both research and teaching activities
2) to serve the institute wholeheartedly, but not to take any unpleasant interaction with colleagues personally
3) to always remember that while an institute needs the employee, the employee needs the institute more [this is something I learnt from my colleague, Prince Calming]
But, I have to admit - I have developed a serious aversion to attending meetings! See the contrast in what I felt about attending meetings here (last year) and here (this year). [1]
Recently, when I was talking to a relative [who thinks I am too starry eyed for my own good] about the upcoming move, he remarked, "It's nice to see you excited to move to New1. But, weren't you as excited two years ago when you were moving to N1?"
Yes, I was, and I don't see why I should not be so all over again.
I am now moving to a place where I will be a much better fit. There are many reasons to be happy about - the presence of an active group in my research area, the efforts made by the leadership to encourage and facilitate the growth of my future department and of course, the interest they have shown in my application. It is always great to join a place where one feels welcomed and an integral part of the system.
[1] During my interview at New1, members of the selection team remarked about the high number of committees that I was a member of at N1 (this was mentioned in my CV). When one of them mentioned that I might find myself without a lot of these jobs on joining New1, I wanted to stand up and dance in joy.
Planning and coordinating the move has been very smooth this time. After a couple more signatures on my no dues form, I will be good to go!
I was going through some of the initial posts on this blog about my excitement at joining N1. I have spent a little more than two years here and have learnt a lot. At the time of joining, I did not anticipate that I will move. I imagined that I will live "happily ever after" at N1, but now realize that one cannot predict the future in such certain terms. My experience here has been mostly very positive. I feel privileged for getting a chance to teach motivated and sincere students, work with talented and energetic colleagues and serve the institute.
I hope that my experience at N1 can enable me to do a much better job at New1. The three most crucial lessons I have learnt during my stay here are
1) the importance of time management to balance both research and teaching activities
2) to serve the institute wholeheartedly, but not to take any unpleasant interaction with colleagues personally
3) to always remember that while an institute needs the employee, the employee needs the institute more [this is something I learnt from my colleague, Prince Calming]
But, I have to admit - I have developed a serious aversion to attending meetings! See the contrast in what I felt about attending meetings here (last year) and here (this year). [1]
Recently, when I was talking to a relative [who thinks I am too starry eyed for my own good] about the upcoming move, he remarked, "It's nice to see you excited to move to New1. But, weren't you as excited two years ago when you were moving to N1?"
Yes, I was, and I don't see why I should not be so all over again.
I am now moving to a place where I will be a much better fit. There are many reasons to be happy about - the presence of an active group in my research area, the efforts made by the leadership to encourage and facilitate the growth of my future department and of course, the interest they have shown in my application. It is always great to join a place where one feels welcomed and an integral part of the system.
[1] During my interview at New1, members of the selection team remarked about the high number of committees that I was a member of at N1 (this was mentioned in my CV). When one of them mentioned that I might find myself without a lot of these jobs on joining New1, I wanted to stand up and dance in joy.
3 comments:
All the best at New1, New Prof!
I think it's important to be optimistic at the beginning of something new. I apologize in advance for this horrible analogy but life is sometimes like a computer: even if everything is the same it sometimes works better when you restart it. :-D
Thank you Pramod. That's a great analogy :)
Good luck ! Keep writing :)
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