At the college where I teach, I'm surrounded by circus…
““At the college where I teach, I'm surrounded by circus people. We aren't tightrope walkers or acrobats. We don't breathe fire or swallow swords. We're gypsies, moving wherever there's work to be found. Our scrapbooks and photo albums bear witness to our vagabond lives: college years, grad-school years, instructor-mill years, first-job years. In between each stage is a picture of old friends helping to fill a truck with boxes and furniture. We pitch our tents, and that place becomes home for a while. We make families from colleagues and students, lovers and neighbors. And when that place is no longer working, we don't just make do. We move on to the place that's next. No place is home. Every place is home. Home is our stuff. As much as I love the Cumberland Valley at twilight, I probably won't live there forever, and this doesn't really scare me. That's how I know I'm circus people. ””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Academics live a transient, community‑building life, treating each place as temporary home and moving on when needed.
In simple terms: Educators are nomadic community builders.
Key Takeaway
Embrace change, build connections.
Themes
education
community
nomadism
friendship
adaptability
life stages
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
Type
Circus:1
Education:0
Old friends:0
Photo Album:0
Friends Helping:0
Know Circus:0
Circus People:0
Lives College:0
Surrounded Circus:0
When to use this quote
- teaching
- conference travel
- relocation
- team building
- career transitions
Key Concepts
transient identity
social networks
career mobility
Questions to Reflect On
- What support helps during transitions?
- How do you maintain lasting friendships?
A Different Perspective
Frequent moves can strain personal stability.