SS Ep2 I Have the Ph.D. I Don’t Have the Title.

What happens when your vocation outlives your job? In this episode of Crayons in My Manuscript, I share a personal confession: I still live like a scholar, even though I don't currently hold an academic post. After earning my PhD and turning down two visiting assistant professor positions during a season of major life changes, I've had to wrestle with questions of identity, vocation, scholarship, and belonging. What happens when you still think, research, write, and contribute like a scholar—but no longer have the institutional title, resources, or recognition that often come with it? In this conversation, we'll talk about: The hidden challenges of life outside academia • Why losing institutional support can feel surprisingly personal • The difference between a job and a vocation • Reframing your identity when your career path changes • Continuing meaningful scholarship in the midst of real life Whether you're between academic positions, pursuing scholarship independently, balancing research with parenting, or navigating a career transition, I hope this conversation reminds you that your calling is bigger than any title. I'd love to hear from you in the comments: Have you ever carried an identity that the world didn't quite know what to do with? ☕ Support the channel: https://coff.ee/staceygarrepy 📚 Subscribe for more conversations about writing, scholarship, productivity, and building meaningful work within a full and beautiful life. #Scholarship #Academia #PhDLife #AcademicWriting #LifeAfterAcademia #IndependentScholar #WritingCommunity