Thesis: Defended.

My graduate school career has officially come to an end!!! After working on draft after draft of my thesis, mindlessly editing and organizing every word, it is complete. I submitted it to my thesis committee members last week for their final review and my defense meeting was scheduled for Tuesday at noon. I took the day off from work, headed over to campus early, and tried to prepare for the kinds of questions that I would be asked during the meeting. I really did not know what to expect, other than offering a brief summary of my research and main findings. Once we entered the conference room, my anxiety started to rise as the panel of professors started to ask me really questions like, “What do you mean by this statement here on page 38?” and “Why did you run your analyses this way?” In all, they asked about 15 to 20 questions while I tried my best to follow them up with reasonable answers.

After a few hours in the meeting, the panel decided that a few changes needed to be made (just minor additions, thank goodness). After which, they would give their signatures on my petition of completion (the official document proving that my thesis has been approved). So, I busily made changes over the next two days, scrambling to obtain my needed signatures and meet the new deadline of Thursday, the 13th (the deadline was supposed to be on Friday the 14th, but since that day was furloughed, the deadline was pushed up). Then I focused on formatting the final document and trying to track down members of my committee for their signatures (after all, it is summer break). After a very stressful week, I submitted my completed draft to the university for binding and ordered a copy for myself to keep.

Eric is taking me out to a fancy dinner and a movie later today to celebrate. I can’t believe that I actually completed this huge task! It hasn’t really hit me yet that I’m really done with school now. I’m sure it will soon :).