I passed my PhD on Monday. The day was amazing. The defence began at 2pm so up until then I was running around like a headless chicken fixing things and attempting to keep my nerves in place. I had decided to have U2â??s â??Sunday Bloody Sundayâ?? as a theme song so in my head the lyrics were rolling around until I stepped up on the podium:
And the battles just begun
Theres many lost, but tell me who has won
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart
Anyway the defence began with the opponent explaining that he liked my work. This was great but I knew that there was a big BUT just waiting to come along. It did. We had some interesting and lively question and answer sessions. I think that I managed to get my points across. The good part was that I was so wrapped up in the discussion that I really enjoyed myself. I did not notice that we had gone on for more than two hours. The examination board then placed their questions which gave some more discussion.
In action at the Disputatio
Then it was over. The committee went off to discuss my fate. I was surrounded by friends and family wishing me well and, in what felt like a short while, the committee came out and notified me that their verdict was unanimous. I passed. I was a PhD.
The party continued until the early hoursâ?¦