A noobs balance. Where to go on my journey? I’ll keep this short and sweet. Recently I’ve been pondering the idea of becoming a professor of Eastern Religions, particularly Buddhism. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but something about Buddhism, it’s core teachings and practicality, the Buddha himself, and my interactions with avid practitioners (especially my advisor in college who is a Zen Buddhist herself and someone who I greatly admire) have shown me that this is what I want to do with my life. I do not want to be a monk, as my dream is also to be an educator who inspires people and one day have a family.
My question is:

Where do I go from here? One thing I have learned about Buddhism is the danger of over-intellectualization.

How do some of you find a balance between Buddhist practice (which aims to free us from our minds), and using your mind effectively (to learn about the teachings or follow your passion and calling in life)?

Also, for those of you that have PhD’s in this field, what is your advice?
If you have any further questions you need feel free to ask and I greatly appreciate your help.


Edit:
At the moment, I am a 21 year old rising college junior pursuing a major in religious studies.
I meditate daily using the app 10% happier, but as I progress would like to learn more advanced Buddhist specific techniques. There is a sangha run by my professor every Tuesday that I hope to attend when I return to school in a week.
I would say I have a decent grasp of a basic history and understanding of Buddhism and its teachings, yet find myself daunted by just how much there is to learn and a concern of mine is losing myself in the teachings/history which would be required of me if I pursued the career I hope to. Perhaps though, this in itself is a great opportunity to learn balance and the challenges mentioned are all the more reason to pursue. Thank you.
Where do I go from here? One thing I have learned about Buddhism is the danger of over-intellectualization.

That's not true at all. There is a sutta where monks specializing in absorption meditation (jhana) disparaged monks specializing in the study and teaching of the Dhamma (Buddha's teachings), and vice versa.

Here's what Ven. Maha Cunda eventually advised them to do in AN 6.46:


  “Thus, friends, you should train yourselves: ‘Being Dhamma-devotee
  monks, we will speak in praise of jhana monks.’ That’s how you should
  train yourselves. Why is that? Because these are amazing people, hard
  to find in the world, i.e., those who dwell touching the deathless
  element with the body.
  
  “And thus, friends, you should train yourselves: ‘Being jhana monks,
  we will speak in praise of Dhamma-devotee monks.’ That’s how you
  should train yourselves. Why is that? Because these are amazing
  people, hard to find in the world, i.e., those who penetrate with
  discernment statements of deep meaning.”


So, while AN 5.73 warns those over-intellectualizing to also practise meditation, AN 6.46 reminds us that learning and understanding the Dharma is quite important too.

There is nothing wrong for those specializing in being Dhamma scholars, and for those specializing in jhana meditation, as long as there is balance and moderation.

However, you must remember that these two suttas are directed at monks, not lay people. Lay people are generally advised to practise the five precepts, practise virtue (Right Action, Right Speech, Right Livelihood) and learn the Dhamma (to have Right View).

Right View is the forerunner of the Noble Eightfold Path according to MN 117. So, if you help others learn the Dhamma in order to help them have the Right View (assuming that you already have Right View), then you are giving them the supreme gift, for Itivuttaka 100 says:


  "There are these two kinds of gifts: a gift of material things &amp; a
  gift of the Dhamma. Of the two, this is supreme: a gift of the Dhamma.
  
  "There are these two kinds of sharing: sharing of material things &amp;
  sharing of the Dhamma. Of the two, this is supreme: sharing of the
  Dhamma.
  
  "There are these two kinds of assistance: assistance with material
  things &amp; assistance with the Dhamma. Of the two, this is supreme: help
  with the Dhamma.
  
  "There are these two kinds of mass-donations: a mass-donation of
  material things &amp; a mass-donation of the Dhamma. Of the two, this is
  supreme: a mass-donation of the Dhamma."


How do some of you find a balance between Buddhist practice (which aims to free us from our minds), and using your mind effectively (to learn about the teachings or follow your passion and calling in life)?

As mentioned above, having the Right View is the forerunner of the Noble Eightfold Path. So, it makes a lot of sense to learn the teachings.

Basically, I'm trying to encourage your interest in having an academic career in Buddhist Studies, as a means to study the Buddha's teachings in-depth and convey its message, albeit in an academic form, to students, the scholarly community and people everywhere.