For the last five years, I have been an undergraduate student at the University of Windsor. Finally, I am about to graduate with my Honors Bachelor of Forensic Science. Over the last 10 months, I have been working alongside my program head to set up and execute a study. After hours of writing, revising, and extracting data, there is just one more task standing in the way of my degree: I need to defend my thesis.
In my program, defending your undergraduate thesis makes up part of the final grade. On presentation day, everyone in the class shares a 10-minute seminar on what their study is about, the results, and its importance. It's an opportunity to prove you understand every aspect of your study.
6:30 A.M.: Wake Up & Get Ready
Usually, I am the kind of person who hits the snooze button. But today, my nerves prevented me from sleeping any longer. Thank goodness I packed everything up the night before.
7:30 A.M.: Breakfast & Practice My presentation time was at 12:34 p.m. I had a meal that was satiating enough, and I paired it with a serving of last-minute practicing.
8:45 A.M.: Head Out the Door
I made sure to leave the house knowing I'd have ample time to get to campus. I looked great, I felt great, I was ready.
9:20 A.M.: Opening Remarks
I made it to campus with 20 minutes to spare. The course professors gave a brief explanation of how the day would run.
9:30 A.M.: Presentations
Presentations began as soon as everyone settled. One by one, classmates would go up and present their study. It wasn't until partway through that I realized this seemed to just be one large sharing session.
10:50 A.M.: Break
Once the first group finished, we got the chance to take a break. I made the mistake of drinking a Celsius. I thought the extra caffeine would help, but that's not exactly what happened.
12:25 P.M.: Last-Minute Nerves
This is where my caffeine plan failed me. As I watched the clock tick by, the nerves came back at full force. I attempted to reason with myself, "You know what you're doing. It'll be fine."
12:45 P.M.: Time to Present
As I made my way to the front of the room, I had no thoughts running through my head. Once I was introduced, it was as if something inside me clicked. I went through my presentation as if I didn't just panic. When I reached the end, it felt good to see so many hands shoot up ready to ask questions. After the round of applause, I practically floated back to my seat. I had defended my thesis.
3:00 P.M.: Go Home & Celebrate
I walked out of the building feeling practically weightless. This was the very last thing I had to complete before graduation. Knowing that I had nothing else to do was the biggest reward of all.