The day the stress took over

I have been working on my Masters degree for almost 7 years. Yes, you read that correctly, I said 7. I took a full year off in there when I got married and moved and started a new job. But all in all, it has been 7 long years. And when I started this degree, back in the dark ages, I stressed about the Thesis that I would inevitably have to write. Doesn't a Masters thesis sound daunting? No? Well, to me it was the cornerstone of all things stress.

Over the past 7 years, whenever I have thought of said Thesis, I have instantly had a stomach full of knots. At night, when I can not sleep, it is usually because I am thinking about how much further I have to go to complete my thesis. Going to the dentist sounded more appealing then writing a stinking Thesis. As a post-high school student, I have never been a procrastinator. I have taken great pride in the fact that I get my work done, long before the deadlines, so that it's not hanging over my head. My Thesis however, has made me the Queen of procrastination. There is something about it that I have made out to be insurmountable. Something about it has held me back from progressing to the finish line.

Today, I am taking great strides in my race to the Masters degree finish line. Today, I am conducting my research, which puts me only 3 chapters away from finishing the darn Thesis. And still, my stomach is full of knots. I think that is because today, things get real. And today, it feels as if the universe is laughing at me. Did I get a good night's rest so I can at least appear intelligent and prepared for tonight? Nope, sure didn't. Somehow my wonderful sleeping baby decided that last night would be the perfect night to wake up screaming at 1am and not go back to sleep till 4am. AWESOME! There are unexpected work fires popping up all over the place, work deadlines looming, and focus group participants backing out at the last minute. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised. What would life be without a million unexpected curve balls, just to keep us on our toes. Here's hoping I can still maintain a coherent conversation by 6pm tonight.

David doesn't know it yet, but as soon as my Thesis has been successfully defended, I am organizing a HUGE party. Because I think that seven long years of graduate school, at Johns Hopkins none the less, earns me a big freakin' adult party. Filled with debauchery and friends. Cause for this girl, the artist formerly known as "The Rockstar", nothing is more motivating then the promise of a party! First though, I need to finish the darn thing, pronto. AND stop stress eating everything that's not nailed down. Stress drinking doesn't count though, right?

Comments

[AndreAnna]

1) EAT THE FROG!!
2) Can I come to the party? I am VERY FUN at parties!
3) YOUCAHNDOET!

[Andrea]

But I don't WANNA eat the frog ;-). OH all right, you convinced me. But it had better taste like chicken!!

Also, fun people are always invited to my parties. Especially fun people who can cook, like martinis, and can speak entirely in movie quotes.