Masters Thesis vs. Babies

You know, I'm so close to being done with school, I can hardly stand it. And while many of my friends and cousins are about to experience parenthood for the first or second or third time, I can't help but compare writing my Masters Thesis to that of a gestating and birthing a child.

Preparing
I cannot tell you how much research went into my topic, much like how much thought can go into deciding to have kids (i.e. weighing the pros and cons, affordability, etc.). You finally conclude that yes, you're ready and it's something you really really want.

First Trimester
Holy cow, this is happening. What is the project going to be? Researching becomes super specific. The thought of not finishing on time makes you want to vomit, like, all the time. You're prone to headaches every time you stop and think about all the time and work you have to invest in this. Basically, you live in fear that you can't do it, and constantly worry about biting off more than you can chew as you wait for IRB approval.

Second Trimester
Once you have board approval and you've assembled nearly every piece of research even close to your topic, you're feeling pretty good and ready to start your fieldwork. The persistent nauseated feeling has passed, unless you bit off more than you can chew (i.e. trying to do and interview and transcribe the audio, and code the data all in one day). The cravings set in because you forget to eat here and there, and end up binge-eating ice cream at all hours of the night as you code your data.

Third Trimester
The information you have gathered in the field seemingly migrates from your head to your belly. The hardest part is over right? It's time to start writing. Oh, so much writing. Just when you think you're done, there's just a little bit more to do. The headaches are back, you have nightmares that you're going to fail, and still have random cravings. Insomnia kicks in, and you are uncomfortable all the time because you can't relax.

Preparing for Delivery
You've written the chapters, and now it's time to present. You've run through every possible outcome of this defense and you've convinced yourself that you will be okay no matter what happens.

Post-Delivery
It's all over, and you did great! All the time and work paid off because you have a beautiful published thesis that is your legacy. Oh, you also get a lovely piece of paper that acknowledges your efforts (much like a birth certificate, a Masters Degree).