There are a few hallmarks in every woman’s life, the details of which she will remember with striking clarity forever. The wedding day, the birth of a child, the move into the very first home…
I, having no experience with any of those hallmarks have just lived through one of my very own. This past Tuesday, May 22, at approximately 11:35AM, I had my box checked. All euphemisms aside (please finish chuckling before reading on), getting that little check inside of that little box on the back of a flimsy form, is a hallmark. It is the pinnacle and culmination of years of effort, of weekends lost and vacations forgotten, of draining reserves of emotional energy I never knew I had.
That little, insignificant box, once graced with a check, signifies that I have done enough work and have collected enough data to wrap up experimentation and begin writing my dissertation. That box means I will defend and graduate in the fall. It means I will, hypothetically, be able to make restaurant reservations for Dr. Kushnir. It means I have to look for a job and pretend to be a grown-up.
I didn’t go into my committee meeting anticipating box checking. It just happened. My committee members heard me out, looked at my data, stared intently at one another and decided to check my box. Rounds of congratulations and one completely uncalled-for joke later (something about the check being drawn in vanishing ink and it being gone by the time I get back to lab… mean. That’s just mean, people!), and I was left standing with a silly grin, swirling with gratitude and celebration plans. My advisor was happy and very encouraging, I was swirling and disoriented, my phone was ringing… it was a good day, a memorable day.
I have now mostly recovered from the celebration, the box and its check have almost sunk in. These six years have dragged on and flown by all at the same time. They have served their purpose – I now know what I want to do with myself, with my life. I will look for a job, but I make no promises about the growing up business. That’s a hallmark I no intention of reaching out for.
P.S. My favorite bumper sticker of all time, spotted on an appropriately trashed Ford Taurus: Ph.D. – Phinally Done. Ha! I need to track down a sticker like it.
Congratulations! Thanks for sharing, I am nearing my final exam for my PhD in three weeks so it’s inspiring to know about your “hallmark” moment. Hope you get a job soon.
Mine…a long way to go.
Maria – What’s a final exam? Does that mean you’re defending? Sorry to be dense, every school calls it something different. I wish you the best of luck! Thank you for the congratulations. I hope I get a job too!!
Andrew – Hang in there. I don’t know what else to say. I have only a small glimpse of what it feels like to reach the goal, the PhD, and I have to say that it feels pretty [expletive] good.
Congratulations!! I had a good time reading (and laughing) over your account of having your box checked :) Hope you get a job soon, one which you’ll enjoy what you’re doing. That’s important.
I too still have a long way to go. But where there is a will… ;)
Congrats and I hope you find a job soonish.