Throughout my doctoral program, there has been a reoccurring push to finish my PhD as quickly as possible. As completing my dissertation has become more of a reality, it has become clear that by setting high goals to finish early has resulted in fewer occasions to refine my research. A week ago, I met with Indi to discuss the final weeks of this semester. He talked me through the submission of my dissertation to committee members, my defense, and final revisions, and then we planned graduation. After half an hour or so of discussing the final details leading up to the declaration of "Dr. Kelsie," he said "why are you graduating this semester? I think it would be better if we delay it." And with that, my defense has been postponed and I will not graduate this term.
On one hand, delaying graduation relieves many headaches related to my personal life. I've been at ease this last week knowing that by far the bulk of my work is done, but the guilt of having an unfinished project remains. I still have a mountain of revisions waiting for me. I have more to read. I won't get a mental break over the summer, which means no reading for pleasure or free time activities that don't result in a guilty feeling that I should be working. My stress levels have lowered and my physical health is better because of it. But since I am not graduating this semester, I most likely will not be attending a graduation ceremony when I do finish.
Despite my mixed feelings of delaying graduation, it is a positive development. My committee will have more time to devote to my research. To date, Indi is the only person who has read the entire draft. Only one of my other committee members has read any of my dissertation since my proposal defense a year ago. Because everyone on my committee has other dissertation and master's defenses scheduled this semester, they do not have enough time to read my work and give me the feedback I need to compete in the job market for typology. Furthermore, in looking at the current job market, it has been decided that I need to publish before I graduate in order to secure a job down the road. Geraldine is at a point in which I can start to turn smaller chunks into articles for journal submissions and my committee members have agreed that it is in my best interest to submit items for publication before I graduate.
So, with that, my official end date of April 26th is scratched and has been replaced by something much more ambiguous. Someday I will become Dr. Kelsie, but that day is no longer 3 weeks away.
