Since we're talking about job stuff, I've got an announcement that includes this:

In addition, please describe a brief classroom or education anecdote, drawn from your experience as teacher or student, which you interpret for us (c. 250 words).

Any suggestions about what they're looking for? I've got a bunch of "This kid was having trouble, I helped him/her, s/he understood it" stories that all seem kind of generic, and a few others that seem more interesting, about kids with particular issues that I helped them through, but I don't think I could get any of those to 250 words just for the story, let alone the interpretation. I've also got a few "the student I couldn't reach, and what I learned from it" stories, but those seem a bit risky. (The job is at an early college program -- a high school/college hybrid for high school age kids where they cover all the required high school material in the first two years, then spend the next two years on college courses and graduate with an associates degree.)

Question for the hivemend - or the portion of the hivemind that knows what's what about bifocals: is there a performance difference between the lined and unlined versions? I'm trying to decide which to get and there is a $100.00 difference in price so I'm thinking lined - unless the line actually makes focusing odd.

Thanks!

smonster, most law schools have legal clinics.

Good call. I will look into that.

My officemate has a bottle of scotch that he's been saying we'll open when I get a job. Today, he revised that to when I get a job or my dissertation is accepted, whichever happens first. I guess he wanted to make sure it'll happen sometime.

sumi, I can't wear non-line bifocals, they make me dizzy shifting focus. The line is a clear demarcation from one focus to another, and for me, that works. I will suggest you ask your optician to drop the bifocal a point or two lower than usual. I think convention puts it level with the center of the lower lid, and I find it a visual obstruction. Lower, and it's perfectly accessible by lowering your line of sight a little, usual when reading, but leaves your field of normal vision uncluttered. It's a personal choice, but it helped me adapt to bifocals much more quickly and easily.

JZ, I'm happy to look at it. profile addy is good.

I got three rejection letters today. I'm kind of panicking a bit. As usual. I'm thinking about what I can do if I don't get a job in academia, and I really can't think of much.

Hil, since you've said that you got a lot of initial interviews, but not second interviews, I am wondering if perhaps an interview coach would be a good idea? Someone who can meet with you and practice? You might not know how you come across in interviews; there may be some key things you're doing (or not doing) that aren't putting you in your best light.

I've thought about that, javachik. I'm not sure where to find someone, though.

Damn, I wish I could trust my mom to tell me how sick she really is, but I can't. She's been effectively bedridden for a week and a half - I'm hoping the steroids will knock this bronchitis out of her system. It's scary, because each time she gets sick, it goes straight to her lungs and she has a slower and slower recovery each time.

Hil, wouldn't your university itself have some sort of career resource for undergrads? They could probably hook you up with an interview coach.