At 7:50 in the morning on Sunday, the auditorium of Santa Lenia was packed, and the fourth grade students were waiting for their graduation ceremony.
Different departments sit in separate sections, and the colors of their uniforms are distinct. In addition, there are also many outstanding representatives of the lower grades, wearing formal attire, sitting in the back row.
"Caron, you will definitely be on the list of those who will be retained in school when they are announced later, right?"
Everyone in the Conservatory of Music was wearing pink draped and trimmed graduation gowns. At this time, almost all the students sitting next to Fan Ning asked him the same question.
Ordinary people have vaguely heard of the existence of knowledgeable people. After the graduation concert incident, classmates also knew that Fan Ning was a knowledgeable person. However, they obviously did not understand the specific relationship between various organizations and could only distinguish between "private" and "official"
, and this aristocratic public school undoubtedly belongs to the official institution of the empire.
It is a tradition of the University of Saint-Lenia to set up a part in the graduation ceremony to announce the list of students who have stayed in school. It not only shows the preferential treatment of its own students, but also encourages the junior students.
They all felt that Fan Ning was stable.
"There must be one spot for you, and I guess it's not an administrative position, but a letter of appointment as a teaching assistant! Right, Caroln?"
Then before Fan Ning could speak, several classmates around him started chatting with each other. Calvin, his former roommate, sat directly behind Fan Ning, put his hands on the back of his seat, and mysteriously said to the side: "I heard
It is said that this year’s retention index for graduates from various schools of the University of San Lenia may be only about 5% on average!”
This guy has recovered well after finishing his "part-time job" at Red Onyx Culture Media Company. He previously served as the principal horn at Fan Ning's premiere. He is one of the few people who has made a lot of money and is still safe.
"The ratio is so low?" Several people immediately exclaimed, "It should have been close to 10% in the past few years, right?"
"Then there are only more than a hundred places this year? There are only about ten graduates in each school. This has to exclude administrative clerks or positions in several grammar schools. From this point of view, each school this year has
There are not many new teaching assistants at all!”
The gentle boy who spoke had a worried tone.
Calvin nodded: "The difficulty of staying in school has been increasing. I heard that in the 1990s, 20% of the quota was the norm every year. Well, at that time, the number of graduates from the University of St. Lenia was also small."
Entering a teaching position in an aristocratic public school that is top-notch in the Tioleian Empire and even the world, this is definitely one of the most respectable professions in today's society.
In terms of income alone, it ranks in the second echelon, naturally not as good as being in business or inheriting a family business. However, if social status, honor, security, prospects, network influence, etc. are taken into consideration, it is still suitable for the children of traditional aristocrats or factory owner families.
It has great appeal. Obtaining the status of lecturer is enough to gain status in the family. If you can reach the level of associate professor, it can be called "bringing glory to the family."
From the perspective of the middle class, this job is comparable to the "end of the universe".
Everyone chatting had their own thoughts. In fact, among them, those who were hopeful had already talked with the school.
After all, the intention is mutual. It is impossible for the school to issue a teaching assistant appointment to a student who is busy inheriting the family factory at the graduation ceremony. It must first confirm the other party's ideas and whether it is a priority to stay in the school.
It’s just that the situation now is both delicate and full of uncertainty——
Some of those who were able to be interviewed privately still did not receive the notice of appointment in the end, and those who were not interviewed have not yet been judged... Therefore, some people have expectations, some are curious, some are anxious, and some are very disappointed.
, they always want to inquire about others, to see who has been interviewed and how the interview went.
Fan Ning finally smiled and said: "Calvin, you even know this year's proportions so well. It seems that the results of the small-scale selection competition played a role. Did you have a pleasant interview?"
The curly horn player scratched his head in embarrassment: "Actually, among the works selected for the afternoon session of the graduation concert, my work was rated at the bottom, and Susan next to you was ahead of me..." But as he spoke, his tone
There was some slight pride, "But the interview gave me a good feeling. At least the administrative clerk is very promising, and Susan can pray for a teaching position..."
Someone cast an envious look at him, and the girl named Susan sitting next to Fan Ning also joined the discussion after hearing this: "The proportion of women who can hold teaching positions is still too small. If I can get the administrative staff 5-
The weekly salary of 6 pounds is more than enough..."
She was wearing round-framed glasses and her eyes were lively and cute. At this moment, she spread her palms and raised her fingers to calculate carefully: "Caron, when you are hired as a teaching assistant later, you can get a starting weekly salary of about 7-8 pounds.
, which is about 350 pounds a year! Oh my god, if this decent job comes true, you can at least hire a handyman maid and a baby maid in the future to share most of your future wife's daily housework... and you
With such a talent, he can probably be promoted to a formal lecturer within the minimum years. At that time, adding a dedicated cook will not be a problem, so that he will have the social conditions to hold afternoon tea or dinner parties at home regularly. If he plans carefully, he will also have a little extra piano.
With the income from taking classes, I can still have a lot of money left over every year for traveling or joining clubs.”
Calvin was dumbfounded when he heard this: "You said it so beautifully. If only Caron is on the waiting list and not me, I swear I will be depressed!"
"Ladies and gentlemen! The graduation ceremony has officially begun!"
The sudden sound from the carbon electrode microphone was loud and loud, causing everyone who was whispering to sit up straight.
After the staff briefly explained the arrangements, the flag of the Theoline Empire was raised in the auditorium and music was played. Then the students welcomed the rare principal with warm applause to the stage to speak.
Sternikai was wearing an orange-yellow principal's uniform at this time. This traditional style was very similar to Fan Ning's previous life. He always felt that he couldn't grasp the aesthetic point of it and it looked too conspicuous.
The principal still wore his long hair parted in the middle, and his voice and expression were full of energy when he spoke. However, Fan Ning could clearly see that the light from his etheric body to his astral body was very dim and unstable.
The feeling of swaying was also felt by Vice President Huxley, who was sitting next to the chairman in the audience.
"The strength of the Bologna School's branch on campus is really badly damaged now..." Fan Ning couldn't help but shake his head, and then thought of the deceased Dean Gould, and secretly sighed.
After Sternikei's speech, Huxley and several other members of the school came to the stage to read out the list of graduates. Then the student representatives who participated in the ceremony came to the stage one after another, and the principal issued graduation certificates.
This process was a bit lengthy, and everyone's attention began to shift to the more substantive interest list of students staying in the school. However, they followed the rules of etiquette and did not whisper like before the start.
Finally, we came to the final stage. Each college first sent out outstanding graduate representatives to speak, and then began to read out the list of names.
Fan Ning's spiritual sense spread far beyond the area of the Conservatory of Music, and he "heard" the sounds of large groups of students taking deep breaths, and many of them were trembling in their buttocks or tapping their heels under the table.
The first one in order is the School of Literature and History, followed by the School of Music.
"Please invite Lou Adair, an outstanding graduate of Class 913 of the Conservatory of Music and leader of the second grade group, to come to the stage to speak."
This is in line with everyone's expectations, because this young master, Adair, who comes from a family of railroad tycoons, has endured too much at a young age. He will gradually take over the family business as soon as he graduates, and will definitely not be able to work in school.
Giving the honor of being the only outstanding graduate of each college to this team leader is the dual result of background strength and personal talent, and it is highly anticipated.
After Lu finished his speech and stepped down amidst applause, Vice President Xu Ci, representing the School of Music, finally began to submit the list of candidates who would stay in the school.
"Edward Muric, piano major, hired as assistant teacher in the piano department of the Conservatory of Music!"
applause.
"Roberta Maugham, majoring in composition, is employed as a teaching assistant in the Composition Department of the Conservatory of Music!"
applause.
"Ojeda Calvin, majoring in musicology, is employed as an assistant teacher in the Brass Department of the Conservatory of Music!"
Applause rang out, and envious eyes were cast on Fan Ning's back seat, accompanied by Calvin's surprised and confused murmur: "You think I am a music major, why did I teach French horn after graduation?"
"Irina Susan, majoring in musicology, is employed as an administrative staff member in the Personnel Office of the Conservatory of Music!"
As the applause rang out, the girl next to her's eyes shone with surprise and she made a silent "wow" expression, but she immediately turned to look at Fan Ning and found that he seemed to be thinking about something.
There are also several strange lights all around.
Calvin was a little confused: "I have already read the list of administrators to be retained...maybe Carloun performed like this in his debut, and he is only an administrator?"
Several other people secretly complained for Fan Ning.
"Could it be said that because it is not a 'Graduation Concert Premiere' in the procedural sense, it does not count as an addition? Then why does the school praise his "Symphony No. 1" in the "Journal of the University of St. Lenia"?
"?"
"If I remember correctly, Fan Ning is also a middle-class student. He shouldn't have any other intentions, right? Even if he has other choices, he should be given the honor of an outstanding graduate!"
"This is unreasonable! Look at the previous reports from mainstream music critics! Isn't the school afraid of being drowned in the saliva of the art world?"
"Isn't it enough that Fan Ning won the first place in the nomination for a large-scale work with his string quartet "Death and the Maiden"? Last year's selection at the City Concert Hall was much more valuable than before!"
Vice President Schutz’s broadcast continues.
"..."
"Belinda Moore, vocal major, hired as full-time scorer for the St. Lenia Symphony Orchestra!"
"Red West, violin major, employed as an administrative staff member of the Publicity Department of the Conservatory of Music!"
There are a total of 15 graduates of the Conservatory of Music staying at the school, and only 3 of them are teaching assistants, which shows how valuable it is.
After the broadcast stopped for more than three seconds, there were some extremely weak whispers in the entire auditorium.
Then Vice President Xu Zi said with a smile: "There is another student whose situation is quite special, so I put it at the end."
He paused deliberately, and then spoke loudly:
"Caroline Van Ning, Department of Music, is employed as an honorary associate professor in the Composition Department of the School of Music and the permanent conductor of the Santa Lenia Symphony Orchestra!"
The auditorium was suddenly completely silent for several seconds, during which Fan Ning frowned briefly.
"...What happened?" Several students who were previously in a state of denunciation were now confused.
It was a kind of silence where even the sound of breathing and the friction of clothes disappeared. Gradually, the "background noise" reappeared in the auditorium.
"What associate professor?"
"What conductor of the symphony orchestra?"
"Honor what?"
Everyone at the graduation ceremony suspected that they had heard wrongly, and they all checked with the classmates around them.
It is extremely rare to get a place to stay in school. The most valuable teaching position (teaching assistant) in the school only accounts for about 20% of the places every year! The rest are either administrative positions or teachers in several affiliated grammar schools.
post!
Starting from the title of teaching assistant, it takes an average of 3-5 years to obtain the status of a trainee lecturer, and another year to become a formal lecturer. If you want to obtain the title of associate professor, you have to wait until you are at least 35 years old!
Although the school only stipulates that professors must be over 40 years old for the title of professor, and not others, this is the norm! It is also the normal rhythm when competition is fierce and professional titles are in short supply!
And Fan Ning is only 23 years old this year! He jumped two or three levels in a row! What is the concept of a 23-year-old associate professor at the University of San Lenia?
Is there no precedent for this?
The appointment of the first honorary associate professor has already stunned everyone, and they have no energy to think about the symphony orchestra later.
Vice President Xu Ci glanced at the expressions of the students in various areas of the auditorium, with a somewhat satisfied look on his brow, and then walked back to the chair row.
"Please invite the outstanding graduates of the 913th class of the Polytechnic Institute..." the staff continued to announce.
Calvin choked and said, "Um, do any of you know what the weekly salary of an associate professor is?"
No one paid attention to him. After a few minutes, Susan, a round-faced girl sitting next to Fan Ning, spoke for the second time: "Classmate Carol... uh, Mr. Fan Ning... uh, no, Professor Fan Ning, your various appointments
Personnel procedures, maybe I can help you"
She looked at this young man who was about the same age as herself and felt a little uncomfortable for a while. Although she gradually switched to the respectful tone she should have, she still felt a sense of dislocation.
Because in school, the default image of those who can call each other professor is either an elegant and easy-going middle-aged scholar, or a knowledgeable old artist, old scientist, old sociologist...
"Professor Fan Ning, I am Belinda, the new scorer of the symphony orchestra that Dean Xu Ci just mentioned. I would like your advice on all the orchestra's affairs from now on."
A girl with a shy voice and a blue headband on her hair leaned forward to say hello, then stepped back.
Fan Ning recognized her. She was the girl who had asked him for the score of "Fantasy Impromptu".
"Professor Fan Ning..."
Facing the classmates who came over to greet him one after another, Fan Ning responded politely one by one. When the end was announced, he immediately retreated from the nearest passage.
On the side of the auditorium corridor leading to the symphony hall, there was still a sign indicating construction danger. Fan Ning glanced at it and quickly walked out of the auditorium hall.
He was just about to step down the steps when several people walked towards him, reminding him that there seemed to be a big link that had yet to be passed.
"Caron, you're finally out. Let's go with you to take pictures in the square. It seems that Senior Sister Roy has hired a private photographer again!"
Sheeran and Joan, both dressed up, waved excitedly to themselves.
As a result, Fan Ning's wish to seek some peace and quiet alone was in vain. They went to Meyer Avenue first, and the rear troops arrived shortly afterwards.
Fan Ning first followed the photographer arranged by the school and participated in a co-shoot with students from the music department, and then was dragged into group photos one after another, one after another, one after another, and one row after another.
Finally, it’s with friends.
"Sheeran, you called him wrong. You should call him Professor Fan Ning now." While adjusting the background and posture, or waiting for a long exposure, Joan playfully kept correcting Sheeran's name.
"Qiong, if you want to call him that, just call him that!" Sheeran kept protesting to her best friend.
Fan Ning shook his head helplessly. This was the reason why he wanted to be quiet before. The junior students who were still good-natured students suddenly called him like this, and he felt that he was not very used to it for the time being.
Speaking of which, the title of honorary associate professor was also the result of discussions after the school proposed it, considering his status as the leader of the school. Can he be considered a school teacher in the formal sense?
After he straightened his graduation hat and took a photo of themselves with Roy, who was wearing a cream tea dress, he finally asked:
"Ms. Roy, didn't you agree that there will only be an associate professor? What did you do with the permanent conductor?"