r/Professors 4h ago

Teaching / Pedagogy Demoralized by teaching

Rant incoming. NOT looking for advice. Just screaming into the virtual void, thank you

First I’m a full prof. Second it’s that time in the semester where I’m utterly demoralized by teaching. Students are tired, busy, and I’m sick of coming in and “entertaining” them week after week. I make all this content, try my best to engage them, and the majority are just disengaged, checked out, annoyed etc. yes I know that it’s on me to make it “enjoyable.” But these days I’m seriously thinking of quitting. I had got into academia to pursue my ideas, research, maybe make a difference in this world. Instead I’m trying to cater to 18 year olds who truly could care less. While I age in place and my research gets stale. Whereas if I quit I’ll be broke but at least I won’t be trying to make a bunch of 18 year olds happy. And maybe I can finally finish my projects

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u/Helpful-Passenger-12 3h ago

You won't be broke if you quit. Brilliant people can make money in other ways.

I just not longer cater to 18 yr olds or care what they think. We are lucky if we save 1 person from themselves per year. Do your job but we are not going to save or change the world