A moment of recognition
A colleague of mine was recently appointed as an assistant professor, a well-deserved and long-awaited recognition of his talent, commitment, and teaching excellence. When I congratulated him the next day, he smiled and said: “Well, you know, I’ve been here since 2017!”
It was a harmless comment, almost humorous, yet it lingered in my mind. Not because he didn’t deserve the position, he truly did, but because of how he explained his success. His words reflected something more profound about the way many of us in academia learn to frame achievement: through time served rather than work done.
The stories we tell about achievement
In a profession defined by temporary contracts, postponed stability, and constant evaluation, simply remaining in the system can feel like a victory. After years of precarity, anyone who finally obtains a permanent position feels both relief and vindication. Survival itself becomes a mark of merit. So when we say “I’ve been here since 2017,” we are not only referring to seniority but also acknowledging endurance.
But there is a subtle risk in that narrative. Suppose longevity becomes the dominant explanation for success. In that case, it can obscure what truly matters: the ideas, the curiosity, the mentoring, and the scientific contributions that should be at the core of academic recognition. Time at an institution might provide continuity and experience, but it doesn’t automatically equate to growth or innovation. The danger is cultural: that we start celebrating duration rather than direction.
Perhaps we also express it this way because claiming excellence feels uncomfortable. Saying “I have worked hard” or “I have made a difference” can sound arrogant in environments where modesty is a virtue. Time, on the other hand, is neutral, and everyone can relate to it. So we measure our worth in years instead of in the impact we have had.
My colleague’s comment was completely understandable and even touching when one considers what long-term dedication often requires. Still, it made me reflect on the narratives we use to describe success in academia. They shape not only how others perceive us, but how we perceive ourselves.
Maybe it is time to change that story. To celebrate endurance, yes, but also to remember that the fundamental justification for achievement lies not in how long we have been somewhere, but in what we have done, and how we have grown along the way.