Everyone In Academia Is Terrified Of What Everyone Else Thinks Of Them

Everyone in academia, from students to professors, lives in fear of what others think. You worry about not getting the job or tenure because of how you’re perceived. The truth is, people may indeed think negatively about you, and there’s little you can do to change that. But that’s exactly the point—you can’t control others’ opinions.

What you can control is how you live your life. Focus on doing what’s best for you and your family, and find balance with the person you’re becoming through your choices. One day, you’ll have to face the reality of those choices: either regretting the opportunities you didn’t take or embracing the decisions that made you and your loved ones truly happy, even if they went against the consensus. The choice is yours—live for others, or live a life that’s true to you.