Graduating Student

(1)

It was during my 4th year of college, I was a graduating student, and one key requirement for us to graduate was to pass our thesis subject. 

I was an art student at the time, so we had to do our thesis individually. During senior high school, I had always relied on group mates to complete the manuscript, so I was nervous about working on my thesis by myself.

I worked on my thesis manuscript at all hours of the day and night, and I even changed my thesis topic once. I had no idea what I was doing or what I wanted to research. 

One of my friends suggested that I look into what I'm interested in, so I did. Aside from Kpop, one of my interests is anime; also, anime is considered art, which was just up my alley. 

I'm an art student who can draw and is interested in screenwriting, so why not do some anime research?

I had a difficult time getting started on my manuscript, and it took several tries for me to be satisfied with the title. 

Although I had a little enjoyment while researching my topic, the stress hasn't totally gone away. I generally dance, but since I began writing my thesis, I've had to quit dancing till I finished it. 

Furthermore, because this was my second thesis topic, there were just a few weeks until our thesis defense.

During the first semester of my fourth year, I had roughly 5 other subjects, 4 of which were major subjects, all of which were based on making artworks, whether sculpture, art restoration, or painting. 

Despite having these tasks assigned to us, I was able to complete them, as well as my thesis manuscript, before the defense after many sleepless nights.

But even though I've finished and have a week before the defense, I can't rest just yet. I had to go over and edit my manuscript, make at least four print copies of it, create a PowerPoint presentation about my thesis topic, try to foresee the juror's questions so that I could practice my answers, and practice how I'd present my presentation.

Then came the big day: my thesis defense. I was the last person on the schedule to report my presentation. I was apprehensive as I watched my classmates finish their defense. 

I kept reciting and practicing my presentation, which increased my anxiety. I then remembered the advice my professor gave to us.

"Chocolates helped me when I was in college during the day of our thesis defense, it helped me a lot to relax." He said, and so I took the advice.

When it was break time, I walked to the local convenience store and got Hershey's milk chocolate. With one bite, it surprisingly helped me relax. 

When my turn to present was approaching, I hurriedly ate another bite to help me relax as I mentally practiced presenting for the last time until it was finally my turn.

In the end, I performed wonderfully and passed both of my thesis defenses! One is for the manuscript, while the other is for the artwork. I'm pleased to announce that I've graduated and now hold an art degree.

#HersheysMode