Retirement
I just turned in my last set of grades. I hate grading so passionately that in part I'm delighted that I'll never have to do it again. I'll never have to catch another cheater, or speak professionally to another student screaming at me. But after 30 years I feel sad that I won't be able to help a student grow, gain confidence, or go out to do good in the world themselves. I feel a bit lost.
I'm thanking god that I am able to escape, although I'm nowhere near the time I had anticipated leaving. AI cheating, the end of academic freedom, censorship...I can't begin to know what to do about that stuff.
I've been working in industry part time and will keep doing that. But this will be the first time since I was a 22-year old graduate student that I will not be teaching and I don't know how it is going to affect me.
Would love to hear how retirement has gone for other professors.