Hello Friends
The Bailey Post has been silent too long. The reason why I haven't posted in a month is simply that my life went from a crawl to full throttle in less than 2 weeks about a month ago. Specifically, I began taking 2 classes at Hunter College in midtown Manhattan. I am taking Art in America: 1700 to 1900 and American Political Thought. The Political Thought class is an area I have wanted to study for some time and the art class fills in a gap in my previous studies.
The bigger news is the
fact that I was hired to teach at Lehman College in West Bronx, NY. I believe it
was providential and maybe you will too after I tell you how I got this job. I
came back from my California trip even more restless to do something meaningful
(my theme song for the last 2 years) and my son said to me one day "dad I think
you can get a job teaching English in college with your background and credentials,
just not teach full time without a Phd". So I decided to try and land an adjunct
(part-time) position for second semester or in the event I ended up somewhere else maybe a job there. I spent a full week getting my resume
and cover letter (now called c.vitae) together.
I asked Austin one
weekend if I should mail them out now (the new semester was starting in 3 days)
or wait until December. He said to send them now and follow up with an e-mail in
December. So, I mailed out my C. Vitae’s on Monday Aug. 26. I got a call on
Wednesday Aug 28 from Lehman saying they had a last minute section open up. It
opened up the very hour my resume landed on the Department Chairs desk. I went in the next day and was hired. I teach Mon.-Wed. from 2:00-3:15. My office
hour is Wednesday 3:30-4:30. I share an office with 2 other professors. One is
full time and one is an adjunct.
Lehman is a four year
college with a full range of undergraduate and graduate programs. It’s an older
beautiful campus (I included some pictures). I take the 4 train from Manhattan
straight to Kingsbridge Road, and walk 3 blocks to Lehman College. Carman Hall is the
first building I come to on the campus.
The English Department takes up all the third floor of Carman Hall. My office and classroom are all located on the
same floor. The funny part is this, I have gone back to the old blackboard and
chalk. (see pic)
My friends, I needed
this. Doers have to do. There is plenty of time for the rocking chair on the
porch and I will know when that time comes for me. My other blessing is I am
teaching the same course at Lehman that Austin and Rebecca teach at Hunter. We
get together and talk shop. Talk shop with my kids for God's sake!
I hope I get picked up
for second semester but for now “I'm doing” and happy.
I hope to get The Bailey Post back humming along real
soon.
