Class begins again tomorrow

On Tuesday, I start an advanced statistics class. Officially, it is a research class, but that entails some of the different types of statistical principles. I expect that this will be the most difficult class I have taken in three years of college studies for my associates, and now my bachelor’s level management degree. Some of folks I work with will have to learn to respect the boundaries of working hours, versus the rest of the night. Some of the people figure that if my phone is on, I am working so they can call anytime, day or night, and can monopolize my time through the evening. In the past, I have gotten angry rejoinders because I was reluctant to provide non-critical technical support until 10 or 11 at night. When that happens, it can get to the point that I cannot even do my assignments or live up to my OTHER commitments.

These classes are expensive, and I clearly need to set unmistakable boundaries. I don't mind the guys calling if they are in a casino, facing a difficult or unusual hardware failure or similar problem. I am willing to support them when that happens, anytime, day or night. After hours, most things CAN and SHOULD wait until the next business day, and that includes most email responses. I sometimes get irritated or angry rejoinders when I do not respond in the same evening to work-related emails. In light of the fact that I expect that I will again commit 20 or more hours per week to homework, I need to establish boundaries and reiterate the fact that I do not work 24 hours per day. I am not sure exactly how I will state that, but I suppose this is like my dress rehearsal for that statement in defiance of equivocation. When I am doing homework and it is well past the time that the management and service personnel go home, just because I am a home-based tech with 24-7 access to the network and detailed support information does not require my unconditional and unlimited service every minute, day or night. The guys are going to just have to respect that among my commitments, besides my working life, I have a degree program in which I am knee deep in the thick of the really tough classes. More importantly, the fact of the matter is this: I have a family, with two young sons. They grow up far too fast as it is, and I don't appreciate gratuitous intrusions during my family's quality time and when I am studying!

I don't want to miss the important events of my sons’ childhood simply because some people cannot respect boundaries. The guys will have to understand that while I love my job, even after all these years, I am working to live, not living to work.