Thesis is Defended!
Last Monday was a very good day. I had hairapy at Salon Rouge, donned my summer khaki-colored business suit with the sapphire top since it was still technically summer, and strolled down to Wiekamp Hall at Indiana University South Bend. Since March 2014 I have been waiting for this day, sometimes patiently, most days anxiously, to meet and defend my thesis. Steve walked with me, encouraging as always. He said he was more nervous than I was.
The experience was like my academic advisor had suggested: it was more of a celebration and a thoughtful discussion on my topic, which is expressive freewriting. I spoke for about 5-7 minutes on the writing process, key concepts, prolific authors, and the takeaways.
After my introduction, it was a question and answer session with the thesis committee (which I hand-picked) and with the Director of the MLS program. I thought fielding the questions would be difficult, but it really was not difficult at all.
When the question and answer session was over, I was asked to leave the room while the committee pondered about my fate. (Just kidding—I had a very good feeling when I left the room.) When I re-entered the room, it was brought to my attention that not only did I pass, but I completed the project with an A-! I was expecting a B or B+, so I was pleasantly surprised.
The thesis was meant to be because I am more excited about the prospects than when I started this process. This thesis and the MLS program (Master of Liberal Studies) was meant to be a community service-oriented degree, and I intend on doing good things with it!
The final steps are to format the thesis so it can be bound and published in the library. I will receive my diploma in December 2015. Thank goodness!
The takeaway from this post is that I followed a dream and completed a goal. Life is short--take a risk, follow your heart, and follow your dream!
The experience was like my academic advisor had suggested: it was more of a celebration and a thoughtful discussion on my topic, which is expressive freewriting. I spoke for about 5-7 minutes on the writing process, key concepts, prolific authors, and the takeaways.
After my introduction, it was a question and answer session with the thesis committee (which I hand-picked) and with the Director of the MLS program. I thought fielding the questions would be difficult, but it really was not difficult at all.
When the question and answer session was over, I was asked to leave the room while the committee pondered about my fate. (Just kidding—I had a very good feeling when I left the room.) When I re-entered the room, it was brought to my attention that not only did I pass, but I completed the project with an A-! I was expecting a B or B+, so I was pleasantly surprised.
The thesis was meant to be because I am more excited about the prospects than when I started this process. This thesis and the MLS program (Master of Liberal Studies) was meant to be a community service-oriented degree, and I intend on doing good things with it!
The final steps are to format the thesis so it can be bound and published in the library. I will receive my diploma in December 2015. Thank goodness!
The takeaway from this post is that I followed a dream and completed a goal. Life is short--take a risk, follow your heart, and follow your dream!
Comments
I am so happy for you about successfully defending your thesis and graduating this December with a 2nd MLS.:-) I know you've worked very hard for this and you really deserve it. As a fellow librarian/writer/blogger and IU grad, I know that this achievement will bring great things for you. Congratulations! Your friend, Carol