Defended my dissertation yesterday. I'm Dr. Now. Doesn't feel real

[Lisa]

I don't even know how to write this post. My hands are shaking. I defended yesterday. Passed with minor revisions. I'm Dr. Now. Dr. Me. Dr. Someone who spent 6 years of her life on a project that's finally, finally, FINALLY done.

The defense was terrifying. Two hours of questions. Two hours of defending every choice, every word, every comma. Two hours of wondering if they'd find the one thing that would make it all fall apart.

And then they sent me out of the room. The waiting. The longest 10 minutes of my life. Then they called me back in. And my advisor smiled and said "Congratulations, Doctor."

I cried. Ugly cried. Right there in front of my whole committee. Didn't care. Couldn't stop. 6 years of work, of doubt, of impostor syndrome, of "I can't do this" moments, all pouring out in front of people who just made me a doctor.

Now I have revisions. Small ones. Easy ones. And then I'm done. Really done. No more dissertation. No more ABD. No more "almost there." Just... done.

For everyone still in the trenches: it's worth it. It's so hard and it's so worth it. Keep going. Your day is coming.

 

[Diane]

Oh Lisa, this gave me chills. Literal chills.

The ugly cry in front of your committee is a tradition at this point. They expect it. They've probably all done it themselves at some point. It's not weakness, it's 6 years of pressure finally releasing.

You did it. You're a doctor. You're someone who stared down imposter syndrome for half a decade and said "not today." So proud of you. Seriously. Go be Dr. Lisa and change the world or whatever.