By
Amanda Labuza in Dissertation Writing
2
I used to get so frustrated when I would congratulate someone after their oral defense and they'd say "I'm not done yet". There were still final edits, forms, etc to finish. I'd wonder why they couldn't just accept the title of doctor. But I get it now. Because you can't quite let yourself relax yet. If you do, you won't be able to keep working and finish the small final tasks. After working so hard for so long, it is hard to push through that final hurdle.
But I finally did. Yesterday I officially submitted my dissertation. It is finally feeling like I am actually done. It is just now sinking in. Granted, some of this may be due to the fact that I haven't been able to go out and celebrate at all. But I think a lot of it is knowing there was still one more thing that had to be done. Still one more edit. Still one more signature to obtain.
But now, now I am done. There is no work left to do for me to be called a doctor. It is a crazy feeling. It has been a dream for so long and now it is reality. I woke up the day after my defense and just started thinking of all the people who had the same degree as me. My mentor, my collegues, Neil deGrasse Tyson, etc. It's awesome!
To all those who have recently graduated during the pandemic, congratulations! We'll celebrate outside one day! In the meantime, enjoy your time off!