The Passing of the Defense
Just a few minutes to say that I passed my defense.
I was trying to keep it all pretty much on the down-low in case I went down there and failed miserably, but my boss, who also defended his diss yesterday (and passed!) told all of the people we work with, and my B told many of our family and friends, so now I get to spend lots of time calling folks and sharing my good news.
The whole experience was, well, it was about 60% fun, cordial, collegial discourse, and 40% terrifying interrogation.
They put me through my paces, and now I can truly feel that I've earned my degree.
B popped over to my building about 30 minutes before I was due to be finished so he could offer support while I awaited my verdict, and apparently he put his ear up to the door just as Hostile Committee Member #3 was yelling, "Where?! Where does it say that?!?!" Yes, that was part of the terrifying interrogation part.
All in all, here is a little list of the things I'll remember most about the experience:
Staying at the lovely inn and spa that I've been wanting to stay at lo these past years.
Enjoying a fabulous dinner the night before with my director, her husband, my bestest UGA friend and her wonderful daughter, and of course my B.
The spa treatments my sweetie bought me in an attempt to help me relax and keep my mind off of my impending doom.
The challenging questions asked by my committee.
The moment in the defense when it dawned on me that I might actually make it through successfully.
My own feelings of excitement and the look on her face when my director came out in the hall to get me.
Walking through campus with that sense of accomplishment.
And our lovely celebration destination at the Biltmore Inn, planning Tater's wedding there and enjoying their cheese and fruit plate in the "library lounge," drinking our Pinot and watching the sun set.
It has taken a long time to get to this point.
And with that, I am off to clean up my office, put away books, and file away (recycle) lots of drafts and miscellaneous papers.
I was trying to keep it all pretty much on the down-low in case I went down there and failed miserably, but my boss, who also defended his diss yesterday (and passed!) told all of the people we work with, and my B told many of our family and friends, so now I get to spend lots of time calling folks and sharing my good news.
The whole experience was, well, it was about 60% fun, cordial, collegial discourse, and 40% terrifying interrogation.
They put me through my paces, and now I can truly feel that I've earned my degree.
B popped over to my building about 30 minutes before I was due to be finished so he could offer support while I awaited my verdict, and apparently he put his ear up to the door just as Hostile Committee Member #3 was yelling, "Where?! Where does it say that?!?!" Yes, that was part of the terrifying interrogation part.
All in all, here is a little list of the things I'll remember most about the experience:
Staying at the lovely inn and spa that I've been wanting to stay at lo these past years.
Enjoying a fabulous dinner the night before with my director, her husband, my bestest UGA friend and her wonderful daughter, and of course my B.
The spa treatments my sweetie bought me in an attempt to help me relax and keep my mind off of my impending doom.
The challenging questions asked by my committee.
The moment in the defense when it dawned on me that I might actually make it through successfully.
My own feelings of excitement and the look on her face when my director came out in the hall to get me.
Walking through campus with that sense of accomplishment.
And our lovely celebration destination at the Biltmore Inn, planning Tater's wedding there and enjoying their cheese and fruit plate in the "library lounge," drinking our Pinot and watching the sun set.
It has taken a long time to get to this point.
And with that, I am off to clean up my office, put away books, and file away (recycle) lots of drafts and miscellaneous papers.