Why Teach At A Community College?

A Stoic Perspective On Happiness And Contentment

About 8 years ago, after over a quarter-century in industry, I left corporate for academics. At the time, I had two bachelors (finance and economics) and a masters (computer science) and my industry career was wholly focused on technology and software engineering. In deciding to move to academics, given I didn’t have a PhD, my only academic career option was a community college (only masters required). I quickly got a job at the local college; however, as an obsessive, somewhat neurotic, over-achiever, I immediately applied to the nearest PhD program. I was accepted, worked full-time, went to school full-time, and graduated 4.5 years later with a PhD in computer science, with a concentration in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The closer I got to graduation, the questions began.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“Do you have a University you’re applying to?”

“Are you going back to industry?”

Nope. Nope. Nope. I’m happy where I am.

I often heard, and I still hear regularly, “You can make 2–3 times the money in industry.” True, with my background and area of expertise, mid-six figures is a given. I hear, “You could get a tenure track position with a ‘decent’ University.” True, my area of expertise is as hot as it gets right now. As a graduate of Texas State University (currently an R2 university), while I could not get a position at the likes of the University of Texas, a position in a solid mid-level research institution is assured. It was even floated by my department at Texas State that I take a position as a “Professor of Instruction” (fancy title for lecturer) at Texas State. Thanks everyone, but no thanks.

By all accounts, I am a fool, albeit a happy fool. However, there is a method to my madness. It’s all about priorities, and alignment with Stoic Logos. My priorities are personal freedom, academic freedom, intellectual freedom, low stress, and providing high value. Notice what is not in that list; money, status, and prestige. My interest in money only goes as far as what I need to live the life I want to live, and what I require to keep my family safe and well provisioned. So far, I’m doing just fine in both regards. My interest in status and prestige is virtually non-existent. Other people’s opinion of me and my life carries about as much weight as pocket lint (hint: just one of the many reasons I had to leave corporate).

“The approval of the crowd is a worthless goal — what is praised by many is often to be feared by the wise.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 6.30

“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 6.10

Given my priorities, I analyzed my options.

• Corporate: No personal, intellectual, or academic freedom, high-stress, dubious value-providing. I’d get lots of money, and the cost of that money? Just my soul, that’s all. That is a non-starter, my soul is not for sale — ever.

• University: moderate personal, intellectual, and academic freedom, high-stress, possibly high-value providing, but substantially less money than I make now (all our salaries are public, so no secrets there). The university option is at least partially rewarding, but when stacked up against the community college career, for me, it’s not really a choice.

No doubt, a university position carries more prestige and status, but it comes with a steep cost (for me). First, there is the “publish or perish” directive. To get a university position as full professor (a position I already have in my college) requires publishing often and in respected venues. You not only have to publish frequently, you need to do so within in-fashion topics and bring positive in-fashion attention back to your department. So much for academic and intellectual freedom. University careers also carry a massive amount of politicking and positioning, which for me is also a massive stressor. A university position at my level would require undergraduate and graduate advising, which is mostly unpaid, and again, a stressor. There are only two things a university position really offers, prestige and research opportunities. Prestige is meaningless to me, and I’m already free to research whatever I choose.

“Reputation is worthless. It comes from those who do not know you, and it leaves before you do.” — Seneca, Letters to Lucilius, 75

“What is called ‘prestige’ is an opinion, and opinion is a weak master.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 6.16

Conversely, community college life, for me, is outstanding. Start with complete personal, academic, and intellectual freedom, with no one breathing down my neck to publish. If I want to research, I am free to do so, and on any topic I wish. I won’t get college support, but I also don’t get administrative interference. I have no student advisory duties, but if I would like to advise, I can (unofficially). My stress level is almost zero. I have a great administration, great boss, good support, good salary, good benefits, great students, and a lot of my job is just reading and talking about stuff I enjoy reading and talking about anyway.

“No man is happy who is not in harmony with himself.” — Seneca, Letters to Lucilius, 123.3

“Freedom, happiness, and peace are found only in one place: in a man’s own judgment and reasoned choice.” — Epictetus, Discourses, 1.29

All that is already enough to make the decision, but the real gold-star goes to the value I provide at a community college. At a university, I’m just another professor, just another PhD, and my 25+ years of corporate experience is mostly useless. My students would primarily be 18 to 20-year-olds, most of which aren’t really sure why they are there except they are “supposed to go to college” (which I also happen to agree with). Conversely, in the community college my students need me, not just anyone, they need me specifically. My students run the spectrum; the 18-year-old who is there because their parents said so; 20-somethings who came back to school because they need to; 30-somethings who need or want a career change; 40 and 50-somethings who are unemployed or underemployed and need a new start or leg-up; and just about any other circumstance you can imagine. Most importantly, many of our students are ones who, for one reason or another, cannot drop $100k on a university education, but still deserve that same quality education. My students deserve a PhD at the front of the classroom every bit as much as the university students, maybe more. Unfortunately, the sad truth is, most PhDs are not willing to take this position. I will not only will take it, I’m proud of it.

“Do not waste the remainder of your life in thoughts about others… unless you are considering how you can help them. Otherwise, you are losing the chance to act.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 3.4

“What is your profession? Being a human being. Then do what your nature demands: provide for others, work with others, help them.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 8.12

Whatever their background, all my students have one thing in common, they require hard, real, practical training in addition to an academic and theoretical education. I am literally built for this. In a university, I’d be just another PhD, but in the community college I’m able to give my students access to cutting edge PhD-level perspectives and education, which they might not otherwise get, along with practical hands-on training. While I would provide value to a university student too, the value I can provide to a community college student is 10x, and I have the opportunity to teach both theory and practice (universities are seldom interested in practical industry application).

“The wise man is useful to others — not only when he wishes, but even when he sleeps. His life is a lesson. His example is a beacon.” — Seneca, On Leisure, 3.5

Point being, this is not only where I’m happy, this is where I’m needed. When all things are considered, isn’t that really what life is supposed to be about? If you’re not happy, not at peace, and not providing value while happy and at peace, what the hell are you doing?

None of this is about selling people on a community college teaching career, it’s about alignment of priorities with Stoic Logos. It’s about examining what really makes you happy. It’s about asking, what do you really want, what are you willing to give up to get it, and how are you going to achieve it? If your life is not one where you can genuinely say you are happy and at peace, while you are also providing high value to others, fix it.

Now. Today. Don’t think. Just do.

“Consider yourself dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what’s left and live it properly.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 7.56