Today, like any other Monday mornings of my life, I had a hard time getting myself out of bed.
Not until when I realized that I need to write that email for my thesis adviser! It's been more than a week since I submitted my thesis manuscript's first draft. And that would be my first agenda for the day...
Just when I was about to click the "Compose mail" icon, a new email got into my inbox! FROM THE ADVISER no less! It says:
Please see me this afternoon at 4:30pm, 3 October 2011 to discuss your draft manuscript and my comments and suggestions.
I think my heart beat rate just went double. This is it! Today, I will know the verdict whether I will graduate at the end of the month or not. From that moment on, I can't think of anything else but the time: 4.30. I've made up all possible scenarios in my mind. One of which is the possibility of not graduating this semester.
So, at around 4:25, just five minutes before the scheduled meeting, I was there in front of my adviser's room. The door was locked. I walked towards the Chairman's office… and there he was coming out of the room. As I sat on at the visitor's chair in his office, I can't feel or think of anything. It's as if, I’m just ready to accept whatever he will say, good or bad. When he opened my manuscript and started discussing with me what his suggestions and recommendations are, I knew...I cannot finish everything before the month ends.
After about an hour, we finished the discussion. Suddenly I just blurted out: Sir, there is still so much I need to do :( The Adviser replied: You don't have to rush, take it slowly. Just organize what you need to do first...step by step. And, I agree!
There really must be a lot of reasons why it's better not to graduate this sem…
1) This thesis MUST be really good and publishable to an international science journal;
2) The panel committee's schedule is just super hectic that I cannot find a common time for them for a defense this semester;
3) I'll be going out of the country for a research training soon which means, I won't be available for clearance, printing etc.etc.;
4) I'm organizing an international meeting and symposium for December which take most of my time when I'm not doing the databases;
5) There are 21 databases to integrate for the Annual Checklist 2012 before the year ends!
6) I just acquired copy of the Millenium trilogy...I must read during the night :P
Anyways, I'm still hoping I can submit the second (and final draft, I hope) before the year ends so that I can truly have a very merry Christmas and super happy birthday and New Year! And, by the way, the sponsoring agency for my MSc gave me the clearance to travel abroad and to extend another semester for my thesis! God is good!
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