Where do I belong in this universe?
My tribe is marked by subject, classmates,
research group or department,
where I feel confident and supported
Graduation after one’s thesis-parent
has opened the door, introduced you
to new culture where you go for a drink,
talk shop, to field trips or conferences
Who gives you that first academic post,
the secure one, not the temporary one,
when you move from student to staff,
who decides if you can and what you teach?
Call it a jungle, line-up at watering holes,
watch out for big beasts, the ones you
need to review papers and performance;
just remember you will need a hand-up
No academic is an island, knowing terms;
global challenges require work in teams;
just chose yours carefully, or draw on the
right straw, and watch your students grow.
Learned Words 