A friend (you know who you are) recently commented that it seemed like I were “[acting as if] under some kind of law.” I was then, a couple of days ago, talking with my mother on the phone about how the stress of this semester was killing me in a way to which I have been wholly unaccustomed. It was then that I really made the connection about the kind of law I’ve been subjecting myself to. Observe:

I have to prove myself worthy, don’t you see? I have to prove myself to you [my parents] because I’m neither an accountant nor a financial advisor nor any other kind of conventionally-minded job-holder. I have to prove to every woman I’m not a typical, [jerk-like] man. I have to prove to my professors that I’m not just another student unworth their while. I have to prove myself to the United States because I’m from South Carolina, butt of all jokes, armpit of the south! I have to prove myself [at this point I was laughing] to the WORLD!—because I’m from the arrogant cush-nation of America! How will I ever be good enough!

There it is. At least, there’s part of it. I share it with you, my readers, because I wonder if anyone else—especially you involved in academia—have experienced any similar bondage. Now that I see the chains, I can pray for their release!

A friend (you know who you are) recently commented that it seemed like I were “[acting as if] under some kind of law.” I was then, a couple of days ago, talking with my mother on the phone about how the stress of this semester was killing me in a way to which I have been wholly unaccustomed. It was then that I really made the connection about the kind of law I’ve been subjecting myself to. Observe:

I have to prove myself worthy, don’t you see? I have to prove myself to you [my parents] because I’m neither an accountant nor a financial advisor nor any other kind of conventionally-minded job-holder. I have to prove to every woman I’m not a typical, [jerk-like] man. I have to prove to my professors that I’m not just another student unworth their while. I have to prove myself to the United States because I’m from South Carolina, butt of all jokes, armpit of the south! I have to prove myself [at this point I was laughing] to the WORLD!—because I’m from the arrogant cush-nation of America! How will I ever be good enough!

There it is. At least, there’s part of it. I share it with you, my readers, because I wonder if anyone else—especially you involved in academia—have experienced any similar bondage. Now that I see the chains, I can pray for their release!