Well, it had to come sometime: the end of our birthday celebration(s). Last weekend we went to Indianapolis to celebrate with Grandma Chenette (whose birthday is the day after mine), then we went out to eat on Wednesday, and then Sara's family came down from Friday till today. Before today, when I looked at what was going on in our lives, I saw a qualifying exam in the distant future, slightly obscured by a haze of celebrations and partying. Now, I look ahead, and see quite clearly: on Tuesday, I receive the "prepare-ahead" materials for half of my exam, and then I take the whole exam on March 1. In between now and then is just normal life: studying and preparing all day, broken up by preparing to teach/teaching/grading and cooking. (Well, obviously, there will be the occasional get-together with good friends, puzzling with Sara, etc.--I'm not saying it's all bad!)
I'm at the point where it's hard to get really motivated, because I feel like my knowledge is pretty good, and anything studied at this point probably will help me on the exam (filling in gaps), but equally probably will also delete itself from my mind the minute it's over. Fortunately, I think getting the prepared materials on Tuesday will help motivate me.
So I'm headed into the final stretch! Well, except for the oral exam, and then, of course, actually writing the dissertation. I think when I get my degree, my elation at completing this long stage of training will be matched by my bewilderment that such a day would ever arrive.
2 comments:
Your last thought certainly resonates with me--both when I think about some milestones just passed, and the ones far into the future. I'm really amazed at the dedication it takes (and at the dedication you've exhibited) in earning your degree. People commend me for studying "one of the hardest subjects," but I think people are forgetting about Music Theory! May you stay focused and confident in these upcoming weeks!
It really is a journey that covers a lot of mileage---one step at a time. When you were just 1 yr old, I took you on a train trip out to California during spring break ---without your dad. He worked on that final part of his dissertation (the second one...)and greeted us at the train station with the completed project in hand. What elation! He received the degree in Rockefeller Chapel in August of 1984 at the age of 30, after his first year of teaching at Grinnell. Don't worry---you'll get there, too.
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