Page 61 - KTUDELL E-LIT | Issue 4 - January 2025

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Yaren: So, the next question is, do you, personally, keep Not the only one, but maybe just a part of it. That is
travel journals? motivating. A job which gives me freedom, again, to
come back to that, freedom to carry out different
Mme Catherine: Haha, no! I'm just in awe of other projects, that is motivating. I don't have huge
people's journals and I want to read other people's constraints. I mean, there are some, obviously, that is
journals and enjoy other people's journals and I motivating. And the balancing work... It kind of
don't keep one. Sometimes I take some notes. Yeah, merges, and I think, like, for example, a project like
I take some notes and I wish I could do more and I the Carnet de Voyage Festival, which I know about
will do more. I'm sure I will do more! because of work, but it's also a personal pleasure.
Even if I wasn't working, I would still go to the
Yaren: So, if you weren't an academician in the lectures, festival and be part of it and perhaps be a volunteer.
what career would you have pursued and why? So it kind of merges. People I've met through work
on the Erasmus programme, when I've travelled, we
Mme Catherine: I think I would have become a have become friends. People I've collaborated with,
cultural project manager, maybe in an embassy or like the project, the Arlette Project, now the film
an alliance française to promote French culture in director has become a friend. So I think the two
different parts of the world, or maybe in a British merge in a way that's positive. Sometimes I have to
embassy to promote British culture in different be more strict with myself and not work too much,
parts of the world. I think connecting people like in the evenings or at weekends, but when you're
through culture would be a great career. motivated, sometimes it's, or when there are just too
many emails when I have to catch up. But I think the
Yaren: So how do you maintain your motivation in this balance is pretty good at the moment, yeah. I've
academic life and how do you balance a busy schedule of raised children and I have friends, and I love
yours? enjoying social life in Clermont, going to the
cinemas or theatre. I don't feel I've sacrificed family
Mme Catherine: How do I maintain motivation? I life, friendships or enjoying life.
think it is being around young people is motivating
because you can, in some way, perhaps be a part of Yaren: My last question, what tips do you have for young
their journey in finding what they want to do. That people aspiring to an academic career? And especially those
is motivating, especially when I see former students who wish to specialise in your field, in the English, in this
and they say, oh, I'm doing this now, and it's department, what tips do you have?
working well, and I'm glad I was part of that
journey... Mme Catherine: I think developing a sense of
believing in yourself, finding ways, finding your
value in yourself. It's a job where we get very little
feedback. Like in most other jobs you get, you are
reviewed or you get a report. I don't know, there is
some feedback and we don't really have that in our
job. So you have to find it within yourself. You can't
wait for somebody to say you're doing a good job,
carry on. You need to find that in yourself and I
think I would advise young people to believe in your
own worth, your path, your value and what you
bring to your place of work.

Yaren: Thank you so much!

Final Thoughts

As Catherine Morgan Proux reminds us, believing in
oneself and embracing the journey are key to
success, whether in academia or beyond. Her story is
a powerful reminder of the impact one can make
through dedication, creativity, and a solid love for
learning.

For more inspiring stories, keep reading E-LIT!

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