Twitch... twitch... twitch...

In spite of a series of cosmic disasters (on a personal scale), data loss, and enough aggravation to fuel a dozen Road Rage incidents (luckily I'm a calm person), a miracle has occurred.

On Friday, I will present my thesis defense for my Master's in Anthropology. This literally came down to the wire and my major advisor was NOT confident that I could pull it iff. I did, anway.

I'm finishing up the thesis paper now, tweaking the powerpoint presentation to suit not one but THREE professors, and stressing out over the whole thing.

So I just wanted to twitch at someone. Lucky you.

Congrats on that. Quite an accomplishment. You oughta be ready to do a little celebratin' over the weekend. Rest up so you can get started on that doctorate.

No slacking.

Good luck, Byrd! It'll be tough but worth it!

Thesis, Antithesis

Odd, most people are quite calm and relaxed just before defending a thesis.

What does your thesis propose?

Congrats on the succesfful defense Byrd! Good luck on the tweaking finalization!

Party Time! :w:

Tomorrow. It's tomorrow.

Gods....

So right now Byrd is parrying and deflecting the academic thrusts and feints in defense of her Master's Thesis!

Hopefully you don't yell out "Well thats not how we do it on ATS!!! *shakes fist*"

Go Byrd!




All anthropologists/archaeologist carry pistols, right?

The Anthropology Jones

Originally posted by Nygdan
All anthropologists/archaeologist carry pistols, right?

Some carry bullwhips, too.

Give 'em hell, Byrd!

How did it go? I'm absolutely certain it was splendid!

Been thinking of you and sending good vibes your way lol,

Cant wait to here about how it went!

It's done.

The profs were impressed (I was not as impressed with me, because I was a Toastmasters' speaker and actually won some awards with this. I *know* how to work an audience, and I used all the tricks I knew.)

I can't say I feel a huge sense of accomplishment. I *can* say that it was brutal, that it occurred at the same time as a huge amount of stress in my life (child needing hospitalization, mother dying, huge hit on our finances, having to replace several cars, husband needing more meds, ending up uninsured for awhile (you'd faint if you saw what the meds cost without insurance. I thought i was going to have an ulcler), working 4 part-time jobs, etc, etc, etc.)

I can also say that without doing this, I would not be able to successfully do a PhD. And Anthropology was THE perfect field for the Masters'.

So I'm done. I'm mostly just weary. But I'm done... it's like a bad dream that's behind me.

But I'm waking up, and oh... such lovely things I have ahead of me for the PhD! I'm focusing on that and on writing the next set of academic papers. I'm also starting a blog on an anthropologist's take on Fortean stuff (no, we're really not terrified of it) and getting back to writing some fiction. I'll be a guest at a scifi con next month, and I need some credits to talk about at the panels.

And I need to do some artwork, too. But that degree is finished now, and I have lovely things ahead!

good luck man!!!

i would be very stressed if i was in your shoes...

YAY BYRD!!

Maybe it's cliche to say it, and no, I wasn't the one who had to pull it off, but I'm definitely not surprised at the verdict.

Taking some time out for creative pursuits sounds very nice, but speaking as someone who beats himself up way too much over that, I recommend first allocating plenty of time to sort out some of those many woes you need to deal with, cutting yourself as much slack as you can get and giving yourself a much-needed break!

Which might well include some of that creative stuff, of course.

So I guess we must call you Master Byrd now, eh?

Heh. Actually, the woes are all sorted out, and the writing and art is Yet Another Way that I make money. So it's not entirely a creative pursuit as much as it is going back and jumpstarting two careers that've been stalled for several yeras.

But thanks for the good wishes, folks. That really did help, knowing I had friends rooting for me.

Here's hoping everything gets a little easier for you now. Sorry to hear about all the trouble you had during such a stressing time. Hope its all up from here.

Awesome Byrd!

They don't want you to revise anything or any of that jazz? I had thought most papers end up getting approved pending a few modifications? What, did you like, do a really good job or someting??

Party time! :w:

I'm late, but congrats. Only a few years and it'll be Dr. Byrd... it's got a ring to it.

All I can say for all the extra challenges is YIKES! Glad you made it through.

I've just wrapped up freshman year. I figure in 6 years or so I'll finally be getting around to the same ordeal, hopefully without the added pressure. It's odd to even kind of know somebody who has made it. It reminds me of meeting one of the graduating recruits at church during my first week in bootcamp. It was a real "holy cow, people actually make it" moment.

I sort of assumed that the biology students were assembling our professors out of spare parts from students who didn't make it. Hard to imagine that people get Masters and PhDs who didn't used to have them. Especially the old ones. I sort of figured that if you looked at my poli sci prof's birth certificate that his full name would be Doctor Bill Gudelunas.

Hey Byrd...sorry i didnt post my best wishes earlier, only just seen the thread.

Sounds like youve got your hands full but im sure things will go great, all the best luck.

onwards and upwards friend.

I always assumed you were already a PhD... sometimes I wondered if you had several. Sorry to hear about your mother, husband, and child, when it rains it pours eh... I can relate.

Have one on me.... :w: second thought have two

Congrats again and let us get a look at that sci-fi when you're done too. The world needs another Asimov... at least I know I do.

(edit) There's no crying in baseball... and there's no "g" in "second."



[edit on 5-6-2006 by Rren]

congratz byrd (and god bless you)!!!

why should god bless you, people may ask...

the answer:

she did all that hard work successfully, while all those tough problems that life has for us tried to stop her...

this should be an inspiration to all of us (no joke)...