Back to School – And to Paris
In breaking professional news – not that anyone may have been wondering – I bid farewell to the Ivy League in exchange for something a little different, and with infinitely better bread: Paris.
As I constantly seek new professional writing opportunities, I want to keep a foot in academia, maintaining a presence as a college educator. This semester, I’ll be teaching a master’s level course entitled “Digital Media Writing Practicum,” helping students keep up to date with online trends while also improving their writing for all things digital. The class, at the American University of Paris (AUP), falls squarely into all of my interests, and I leapt at the chance to leave America for a while to try something different.
Some friends have asked, “But why did you leave Columbia?” Previously, I was teaching French language courses full time up in Morningside Heights. Working with dedicated students in a prestigious university was dreamlike, and I am grateful to have had the experience, but the role had a short lifespan. Academics who chase tenure or permanent appointments will understand this, and I was chasing something that, ultimately, could not have lasted more than two years because of various university stipulations. With an apartment in (very expensive) New York tied to my employment, it all became too messy and too complicated to want to remain.
Furthermore, I realized I wanted to do something else rather than teach French, which I love, but don’t envision as my career path. Writing, media, digital practice – that’s more my jam. This semester at AUP promises to deliver just that, even if just for a semester.
It wasn’t courageous of me to leave Columbia, but it was a risk. I could have stayed, spent more time, kept applying for jobs both academic and professional – but I cut my losses. I probably would have worked for another two years at Columbia to find myself homeless and jobless again, but I didn’t want to go down that path. Plus the sheer cost of living in New York was getting really old. I know Paris isn’t cheap by any means, but it’s objectively better in terms of cost of living.
My decision to take the risk came down to passion and possibilities, and I am fortunate to be able to make choices motivated by both. The course at AUP is just one semester, but it opens a door to a world of new options, of teaching in Europe, of networking with other academics and lecturers on the continent. Plus, there’s the guaranteed health insurance. Not a bad deal overall.
I’m excited to get started with my students and to see what they produce. Immersing in a new institution is always daunting, but the transition so far has been easy and straightforward. Friendly colleagues and stellar facilities here in Paris are quite different from what I experienced when teaching at the Sorbonne – and that’s neither good nor bad. It’s just exciting. New. Fresh.
Teaching digital practice will keep me plenty busy – and thinking critically – as I move forward trying to find a more permanent role, whether it’s as a professional writer or a full time professor. Maybe by January I’ll be back to the drawing board, but having the opportunity to teach, and to do something I truly enjoy in a place I love dearly is entirely worth the risk.