A professor’s self-examination

Now that the academic year is over and I am rested and recovered, it is time to do some self-assessment of how it went and to outline a plan for the coming year. This is a suggestion of questions for a self-examination as a professor.

First I have to be happy because I have the good fortune to be a university professor: it is a very varied, challenging and rewarding activity that allows me to make life better for others, to improve a little the world, and to grow as a person.

With respect to what is expected of me as a professor:

• Did I prepare conveniently the classes?
• Did I come to class on time? Did I go motivated or by mere compliance?
• Did I correct/present the academic grades and other administrative documents on time?
• Did I take the time to research and publish in academic journals? Did I seek to innovate in my research and contribute to the literature with my papers?

With respect to the others, students and colleagues:

• Did I attend my students properly and with interest in their education?
• How did I treat my peers? Did I willingly collaborate with them or did I just do the bare minimum required to meet my objectives?
• Did I help other professors, for example from countries with fewer resources, to improve and publish, by providing my advice?
• When a journal editor asked me to be a peer-reviewer, what did I do? Did I only accept if the journal had high impact factor?

With regard to myself and my goals:

• Was I concerned about my training and reading to be a better teacher and researcher?
• What was it that inspired my academic life: the others, improving the world, or else were the prestige and money?
• Did I act as a professor normally in consciousness or was I driven by other motives such as obtaining publications, fear of losing the job, or what peers/students could say?

I understand that (academic) life is tough and stressful, and seeing how the things go in the world I’ll settle for the next course to fulfill my duties as a professor with students, to collaborate with my peers and to devote some time to study and research. And you?