On December 14th, in the year of Our Lord 2020, I submitted my Master’s Thesis. This 75 page document gave me unmeasurable stress between August and December. I worked nights and weekends, through multiple rewrites and corrections. There were times that I thought I wouldn’t finish on time and have to go an extra semester. With twins on the way in March and a job offer for February, I couldn’t afford to miss the December 14th deadline. But I persevered, and on December 14th, I took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. After finishing my thesis, I breathed easier than I had since July.
The Iron Compass
My thesis was my final goal for the past two and a half years of my life. It felt different than undergrad in a few ways. I can liken undergrad to weathering a storm, just trying to survive through to graduation. But grad school is different. It’s more of a voyage. I can imagine holding an iron compass, pointing the way to the goal through uncharted waters and fickle winds. Some months of research result in no progress at all, while a week can contain great progress. I like to read books about arduous voyages (like this one), and grad school felt a lot like one: many days with little happening and a lot happening all at once.
The Journey's End
Passing in my thesis was the end of a great journey for me. It took me as far as Quebec City, while a research trip to Norway was canceled due to the global pandemic. I met great friends, interesting colleagues, and learned a lot of ocean engineering. Now I have another month before I start my first real job. It feels different than every other winter break. Instead of looking forward (or dreading) upcoming courses, I’m looking forward to getting a real paycheck and working an interesting job. Today, December 31st, is my official graduation day. The end of the year is always a time of reflection, so I have been thinking about the past two and a half years. I find myself breathing deeply as I reflect on finishing my Master’s degree. And I can smile contently knowing that it was a labor worth undertaking.
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