The big day is a week away! I've been trying to work on my presentation and prepare for my defense, but I've been so tired and distracted. Work has been nuts lately and needless to say, (but I'm sayin' it anyway) I have a lot on my mind!
Anyway, my PowerPoint slides are coming along very slowly but I need to speed it up a bit- Lee wants to see them soon. I need to sit down and read my full dissertation as part of my preparation ... you would think that I would know that thing inside and out, but it's amazing how quickly the small details escape you when you've been working on something for years. Literally. Years. It does give me some small sense of accomplishment to see that stack of paper sitting on my table (and a sense of sadness for destroying so many trees in the process).
Anyway, my PowerPoint slides are coming along very slowly but I need to speed it up a bit- Lee wants to see them soon. I need to sit down and read my full dissertation as part of my preparation ... you would think that I would know that thing inside and out, but it's amazing how quickly the small details escape you when you've been working on something for years. Literally. Years. It does give me some small sense of accomplishment to see that stack of paper sitting on my table (and a sense of sadness for destroying so many trees in the process).
I know this research isn't going to save all of humankind or bring about world peace or anything. Heck, I know that few people will ever read it in its current form! But I do hope that I can take what I've learned and share it and/or use it (perhaps at my fantastic new job). It's turned out to be an OK project, though I would've done some things differently had I been able.A couple of people have recently told me that their dissertation defenses were "anticlimactic". I can see how it could feel that way, though I've taken the long, winding, bumpy road to this place (sometimes not by choice) and so I am guessing I will feel a sense of relief and pride when all is said and done. I'll probably call my mom crying again, to tell her the good news.
When I defended my Master's thesis, someone told me, "Heidi, just enjoy this experience today. This is your work. You really do know the most about your work. So savor this moment. Enjoy it. Have some fun." Now, it may seem difficult to associate fun with presenting your research to highly educated individuals who are there to question, critique, and judge your hard work, but I did enjoy and savor that moment. I felt like I was able to sit down with colleagues and talk about research and education and I enjoyed it.
I plan to do the same with my dissertation.
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