Re: remedies for weariness

[ELIZABETH ANN BRADLEY <eabrad01@morehead-st.edu>]

Lisa
Maybe r stloathingms from a pers1ona slacking i younrOn 
(excuse the error this computer won't allow me to correct) own writing 
career, habits, etc.  Are you a writer? Poet? Iunderstand what you are 
going through.  It is called being selfish.  I don't mean to be so 
brutal, but that's what happens when a writer feels like (A) s/he has not 
been writing and feels guilty and thinks that helping others will take 
away from your own writing time or (B) you don't really want to teach 
anymore and you are in the wrong field.  I suggest that you re-examine 
your initial desire and magnetism for teaching and writing.  Hope I 
helped you out some.  
Thought you might enjoy a perspective from Kentucky, U.S.A.
Beth Bradley
Tutor
Morehead State University
Morehead, Kentucky

 Wed, 7 Feb 1996, 
Lisa Emerson wrote:

>         
> One of the things that always strikes me about the people on this list is
> the amount of energy we all have for our jobs. We work long hours, we work
> intensively with students, and much of our work is very holistic, not just
> to do with analysis but also to do with emotions and empathy and intuitive
> understanding of our students and what their needs are. What I would like
> some discussion on...light hearted or serious!...is what to do when you are
> worn out?
> 
> I have been in my job for eight years; I run the WC here. When I arrived the
> job was very simple; work one-on-one with students. Since I have been
> developing and extending the Centre so we are running study and writing
> workshops, teaching post grads, writing resources, providing staff support,
> and I am running a WAC programme in one faculty. The one-on-one work has
> remained constant; I spend four hours per day seeing students on a one on
> one basis.
> 
> We are about to go into semester one ( remember, I come from the southern
> hemisphere and we do things upside down!), and for the first time in this
> job I am not looking forward to it. I don't want to face the endless hours
> of reading, of responding constructively, thinking carefully, and caring,
> caring. I know that unless I get on top of this I am not going to have the
> right attitude to meet my students who will be arriving in droves next week.
> I feel I need so much energy for the Writing Centre....and I just don't seem
> to have it. This is amazing to me; it has never happened before!
> 
> I guess I would like to know.....have you all been through this? How do
> you work through it? Should I be working on myself ( Get yourself in shape,
> Lisa!), or should I be looking at the position? Is there a shelf life for a
> position like this which takes so much?
> 
> All anecdotes, ancient Writing Centre remedies and plain advice gratefully
> received. Just writing this is great: who else would know what I was talking
> about?!
> 
> Lisa
> 
> 
> Lisa Emerson
> Writing Centre 
> Massey University
> Palmerston North
> New Zealand
> 
> ph 06-3569099 x8104
> fax 6-3502251
> email L.Emerson@massey.ac.nz
> 
>