Thursday, May 7, 2009

Oh yeah, I defended my thesis

I can't believe I haven't written about my most favorite recent event. Hello? Get with it. April 23rd was the BIG day. My Mom, Bill, Tom, and I drove up to Logan on the 22nd by way of Syracuse where Tom gave a bid to work on a deck. We then ate at Cafe Rio and (upon my Mom's insistence) bought me some comfortable black kicks (shoes) for the defense. We stayed at the Crystal Inn in Logan and got some rest.
The next morning I woke up around 6:30, got ready, tried to eat some weird rubber eggs, and headed up to the school. I got to the room at got everything set up. I had no problems with the projector or my presentation file, which is unheard of, right? I also set up the most important element of my presentation...Dunford Doughnuts! I didn't even need to prepare or write a thesis I'm sure. The doughnuts speak for themselves.
I met up with my professor, John, and we laughed at joked about how I wasn't going to pass. My other professor showed up with a box of Kleenex. Ha, ha. I picked some "funny" people for my committee. My third professor came and I found out that his father sat on my Grandma's committee when she was getting her Masters from Utah State. Small world.
Anyway, the presentation went fabulously! I used the following graphic to illustrate a certain point in my thesis. A kid at my Mom's school drew it and it drove home the power of graphic design in communicating a message (which is what my thesis is all about).
After I presented they asked me a few questions (which I knew all the answers too) and then asked me to leave the room. I waited outside for a moment and they finally let me come back in, made me sweat a little and then told me I passed with MINOR revisions. Whoo hoo!
They loved it and they want me to try and get it published. That's a weird thought...but it would be really cool to say "Yeah, I've been published". :)
After the defense and all the paperwork we went to Angie's in Logan and then Bill and Tom dropped my Mom and I off at the DI where we totally scored. We found brand new shoes, darling teacups, a dress for my sister's wedding, and some giant iron candleholders for my Mom. In the meantime, Tom and Bill found the Logan River, they caught 3 fish.
My Mom and I found so much cool stuff and we started to walk up to the mall and realized that our bags were really heavy...so we went back into the DI to try and find something to carry our purchases. We finally found a luggage cart and strapped our stuff onto it. We looked pretty funny. We stretched my Mom's sweatshirt over all the bags so they wouldn't be flying all over the place. :)
Tom and Bill finally came to pick us up and then we headed to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Check out my bird nerd list on the side. It was so fun!
A very happy day...I feel so much lighter...now all I have to do is decide to join the real world or pursue my doctorate...?

11 comments:

Sabrina said...

That is so awesome, Megan. I am glad everything went so well. Congratulations!

Flattail Family said...

Congratulations!!! It sounds like you're already a professional! (except that we are unable to view the graphic designed by the kid at your mom's school) Your committee also sounds like they are nicer people than Kevin's committee. We'll have to try the doughnut factor (although I was thinking about offering lizard-shaped cookies given K's topic). Good luck with the revising and publishing!

Jillyan said...

Congrats Pegleg! What a great accomplishment! Now we need to party until you find a job! We should all (including J and kids) go out to lunch at Chickfila or something. Give me a call!

The Barnum Family said...

Congratulations Meg! I found your blog through Jamie's. Good to see what you're up to, you smart cookie! I say, go for the doctorate!

Texas Harveys said...

Congrats!! You are so amazing. Glad everything went well. We'll be in Utah first week of July...we should get together!

Shanny said...

Congratulations! I'll bet you are so glad that is over with. Do we get to call you Master Dunford now?

ilikewinter said...

Where's the graphic the little kid drew? Or were you kidding about that?

I have to know which professor showed up with a box of Kleenex because they might become my favorite (after John, of course!).

Erin said...

Doctorate?!?! You haven't said anything about that. I'd say join the real world for a while then decide. Congratulations! Proud of you sis.

Kourtney said...

Congrats on the thesis! I am sure that is a relief. I totally dig the DI that is way funny. What sister is getting married?

Brent & Paij Collins said...

Congratulations Megan!! We are excited for you in passing this milestone. You continue to impress me with your talents and capabilities.

Spencer S. said...

Congrats, Meg! Sorry that I am a fair weather blogger, but I enjoy catching up too.