thinking (yet again) about future plans

Last week when I had lunch with a friend I mentioned some great ideas I had for other dissertation topics (as if the one I am working on now isn't enough). Her comment was, "You should be a researcher." Just that statement, as simple as that.

I've been thinking quite a bit lately about "what I want to be when I grow up." I worry, sometimes, that at the age of 36 and finishing a doctoral program I should probably have an idea of what I am going to do with the rest of my life. Obviously I am going to do something within the realm of higher ed. But the question has been what is my next move: administrator, faculty, think tank, association, foundation. Well, who's to say really?

For a while I thought seriously about going into assessment. WRONG! I don't have the temperament and I do have social skills, so that's not going to work. I did apply for a student affairs position recently (BTW: haven't heard a thing, which is is fine if I didn't get the job, but it really isn't good etiquette to just not notify applicants). But now, and it isn't just now but on and off for a while, I am really leaning toward a faculty position.

Here's my dilemma: when I talked to Big J about the whole faculty thing he questioned my commitment to that plan. In his defense, I have been wishy-washy. In my defense, this isn't something that I just thought up, and it's not like I'm not qualified. Nor is it out of the realm of possibility. In fact, it's clearly possible. In fact, one of my faculty told me today that I would be competitive for a faculty position. And, in another piece of good news, he mentioned that there are going to be quite a few retirements in the next few years.

So, if I like research, if I like teaching, if I enjoy being in higher ed, then why not?