After years and years, the time has come. Bye, academia.
I started doing research during the final years of my master’s degree, then some years of fellowship, then the PhD, and now — I started seven months ago a postdoc position (STEM field). More than 30 publications, editor of a journal, and roles in international projects.
I am completely burned out, stressed, and I am on a leave for illness (stress) for a week. I am in a country where academia is extremely corporatist — so if I do not want to accept the unspoken rules, I have to go.
I cannot accept anymore considering it normal to work on weekends, nights, spending A LOT of time on things with low productivity. I cannot accept feeling guilty for being sick, getting a salary that is approximately half of what my profile is worth on the market, and having fixed-term contracts past the age of 30. I am not accepting wasting my life in a toxic environment. I am not willing to accept using my own car for work travel, spending my own money when the university cannot (or does not want?) to cover specific work-related expenses.
In my opinion, this is a complete failure — not of me, but of the academic system. Luckily, new graduates from Gen Z will not accept these absurdities as we millennials did, and then, maybe, things will change.
Guys, there is life outside. And a better life than it has been described to us.