Juggling and Dropping Balls

[barclay_barrios]

As I near the end of my summer “break” I am once again chagrined at my inability to juggle teaching, administration, and research.  I have a proposal that’s only about half done, I have a summer class that’s about wrapped up, and I have a schedule that’s about ready to be put to bed. It’s that proposal that kills me. Being a WPA means never really being “off.”  Even when I am not in the office in the summer I am checking email and putting out fires and, more than once, running to campus for whatever meeting of importance is being called this week.  I know, theoretically, this juggling act is possible—WPAs do it all the time—but it’s a struggle for me and I almost always drop the ball and that ball is always research. I have a precious two weeks before orientation starts.  There’s much WPA work to be done but I am hoping to make a push to finish the proposal at least. Please, tell me I’m not the only one who struggles with the juggle…