8.20.25
Happy Fall 2025! Can’t believe I’m already finished with my first year of teaching. I had a very successful spring course of ASOC 310 (Social Research Methods), and my students were phenomenal – the energy and enthusiasm in that class is unlikely to be matched for several years.
While I am sad to say goodbye to that course, I am really excited to be teaching another course that I am passionate about: ASOC 299, Sociology of Sport. This is an elective course for which I have spent months meticulously crafting the syllabus, and although it is currently low enrollment, I think it will ultimately be a great semester with lots of discussion, fingers crossed! I think back fondly to my time in undergrad, which seems like so long ago now, and I remember a few professors in particular who really pushed me to open my eyes and think critically about the world. To this day, I know when a class has been good if I leave after the hour and a half feeling wiped and thinking, “What on earth did we just talk about?”
As I settled into the 5th year, I am also well-aware that my timer is ticking, and I’d like to finish my dissertation sooner rather than later… hopefully I will defend my proposal within the next 2 months! Optimistically, I know that I’ve done well, especially coming straight from undergrad, to keep up and make it this far, but I must finish strong. As much as I have hated living in Albany itself, it is now comfortable and familiar to me, and the next two years are going to be all about pushing myself outside of my comfort zone as I navigate the job market.
Here’s to another year of smooth sailing and feeling like I’ve made some progress!
-AP
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