The Thesis is In!!!!!
Around this time 5 years ago, I made the decision to apply for a PhD in Human Geography (if I am being specific - Gender and Urban Studies). Little did I know what I was getting myself into. My proposal was accepted. Yay!!! I thought - and I began my PhD October 2009. I will be very honest, it has been the toughest 4 and a half years of my life. I have had more downs than ups. I have cried, I have doubted myself, I have cried some more, had my self confidence shattered, cried again, doubted myself some more and throughout the whole period constantly questioned my decision to even embark on this journey.
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| Minus the coffee - this is pretty much true. |
I wanted to quit so many times - after the end of my first year, at the beginning of my second year, the middle of my second year, during my fieldwork, when I came back from my fieldwork. Each time I was talked out of it. And then there was working through it all. Advice for anyone embarking on a PhD - fully funded or don't bother. The PhD is already stressful enough as it is without having to apply for part-funding here and there and also working part-time (and in the case of the last 3 months, full-time). Let's just say it hasn't been easy. And I would not have been able to make it through without my family and friends who kept me sane the entire time.
I am happy to say though, that through it all I was able to survive. The best part, I got my thesis in last Monday. How did I feel? Light. I've watched TV - guilt free. Read - guilt free. I even watched a play - guilt free. Hung out with friends - guilt free. Slept in - guiltfree. Watched movies - guiltfree. Even went to the cinema - guiltfree. Enjoyed the rare sunshine - guilt free.
It's still not over. The thesis is now with the examiners and I still need to have my viva (oral defense), but this last week has been the most relaxed I've felt in years. And I'm really loving it. Also treated myself to a series I've been wanting to read forever - Aya - and also got a review copy of Boy, Snow, Bird courtesy of Picador.
Guess the next question is:
Well, now the thesis is in, I can go back to reading and blogging some more - which is one of the things I was really sad to have to cut back on. More than that I don't know. For now, it just feels really good to have the thesis in.
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