Low stakes hijinks: An anti-inspirational memoir(ish) of sorts

• In Event: Autoethnographies of Resistance: Reimagining Curriculum

Abstract

This paper discusses a fictionalized memoir-in-progress that centers what it means to be vulnerable, human, and humane in academia. The protagonist is clear throughout that he is not making choices to create and cultivate a personality, persona, attitude, demeanor, etc. With an educational background in Social Work and Education, and enough hours logged to be considered a professional therapy client, he is self-aware and skilled in the art of self-reflection and critique. The choice he makes is to be himself, even though he knows that who he is will limit his ability move up the ranks of the academy. He prioritizes internal validation over external in the hopes it will result in happiness but realizes that this choice doesn’t make happiness any less elusive. Through his stories, the reader learns of all the false promises individuals in positions of power make regarding education and how these false promises affect people’s lives.

Author

• Josh Diem, Rhode Island College