My first day as an Assistant Professor is tomorrow! What a journey this has been!

I figured, why not share some reflections? https://twitter.com/Arrianna_Planey/status/1213163498294915072

First, I did not think that I would stay/land in academia. I was fully prepared to take a non-academic/"alt-ac" position &/or follow my spouse where ever he got an academic job.

So, when @unchpm came through with an offer? I had to rethink a lot of things.

It's not that I lacked ambition. I had graduated into two recessions, which taught me to adjust my expectations when I went on the job market.

And, tbh, the job market for academic medical geographers wasn't so hot in the last cycle. I got a few bites, but mostly *crickets*,

And I'll add- I was in an incredibly fortunate position. I had another year of funding through an external fellowship (hello @HPRScholars ), so I had a fall-back if I didn't get a job in this year's cycle.

But it was still nerve-wracking, b/c we had no idea where we'd live/work.

Anxieties aside, I was going to be OK. I had an amazing support network of peer mentors and senior mentors across institutions, enabled largely through networks built IRL at conferences, online on Twitter, & IRL through the RWJF network/ecosystem.

I just remember how rainy and lovely it was when we landed at RDU ahead of my campus visit with UNC HPM. I chuckled so hard b/c EVERYONE apologized for the "terrible weather", but it was a good 20-30 degrees warmer than home (central IL). I barely needed my light jacket.