The day I have been waiting for since Fall 2014 finally arrive on September 16, 2019.
I DEFENDED MY DISSERTATION!!
AND I defended it SUCCESSFULLY!!!!!!
Joy, happiness, relief, partial disbelief, amazement, bewilderment, pride, release, victorious, etc. These are just some of the feelings that have been racing through my head since Dr. Denham announced, "I'd like to be the first to introduce you to Dr. Karen Burns!".
It took over 5 years to get here. Not unusual for most PhD students, I'm sure. But 5 years is a long time. Now I get my life back. I get to garden, shop, clean house, organize, play with my child, cook, sew, whatever I want to do when I'm not at work!
Oddly enough, it's been over a week and I'm still trying to figure out how to use my time. It feels strange having free time. Or if I wasn't working on my paper, I was thinking about it. Stressing over what I need to do and how to get it done quickly!
But I'm done. Almost. I had a couple of changes to make, naturally. I made those and my co-chairs approved. I sent it to the proofreader. She's working on it now. Once she is done, I'll submit it to ProQuest through our graduate school. Once it is reviewed and approved, then I am done. All that will be left is walking across the stage at commencement December 14 at 1:30 pm. Oh... and then a huge celebration party that night!!
It feels good to be on this side of all the writing! I think DONE is my new favorite word.
I DEFENDED MY DISSERTATION!!
AND I defended it SUCCESSFULLY!!!!!!
Joy, happiness, relief, partial disbelief, amazement, bewilderment, pride, release, victorious, etc. These are just some of the feelings that have been racing through my head since Dr. Denham announced, "I'd like to be the first to introduce you to Dr. Karen Burns!".
It took over 5 years to get here. Not unusual for most PhD students, I'm sure. But 5 years is a long time. Now I get my life back. I get to garden, shop, clean house, organize, play with my child, cook, sew, whatever I want to do when I'm not at work!
Oddly enough, it's been over a week and I'm still trying to figure out how to use my time. It feels strange having free time. Or if I wasn't working on my paper, I was thinking about it. Stressing over what I need to do and how to get it done quickly!
But I'm done. Almost. I had a couple of changes to make, naturally. I made those and my co-chairs approved. I sent it to the proofreader. She's working on it now. Once she is done, I'll submit it to ProQuest through our graduate school. Once it is reviewed and approved, then I am done. All that will be left is walking across the stage at commencement December 14 at 1:30 pm. Oh... and then a huge celebration party that night!!
It feels good to be on this side of all the writing! I think DONE is my new favorite word.