Bill
06-04-2005, 09:51 PM
I will start from the beginning...
My parents and I left for Carlin, NV on Wednesday evening. We stayed at the Comfort Inn and our room was right above the exit. The door below our room squeaked and bumped hard upon closing...so sleep was difficult after 3AM when a great number of truckers left for their respective routes.
Thursday morning we were up early and we were on our way before 6:30AM. It was a nice trip as my father and I shared the driving. The traffic in California was hideous! Bumper to bumper in some places but mostly from Sacramento to Fresno was millions of drivers...okay...maybe only half that. LOL!
We arrived in Fresno around 4PM. My presentation was set for 8PM. I took my parents to a market that has fresh produce and lots of other goodies! We got food from their salad bar and took it to the motel. We ate and then I got ready for the presentation. I drove there leaving plenty of time to setup and do some relaxing.
My presentation began promptly at 8PM. Part of the rite of passage is to get asked questions that are very difficult to answer because you have to think out and far beyond the box. Anxiety and panic raised its ugly head midway into the presentation. I fought it as well as I could...but there were times when I could not think of anything except...I wish it was over!
I finished my presentation and then my committee asked me to leave the room. I was soooo nervous! Then they asked me back in and started explaining how they wanted this part over here beefed up. They told me this followed by compliments and then my chair said, "We came to a decision...." I must have looked like I was having a heart attack as they told the committee member who was on the phone that they wished that they had a camera. Then they told me I passed. I felt like someone had taken the whole floor out from underneath me. Then I nearly cried with joy!
I drove back to the motel feeling like I had just been run over by a tank. Got there and told my parents of the results. I wanted to sleep. I woke up in the morning not feeling well.
I believe that I had food poisoning from the market where we got the salads. I had flu-like symptoms most of Friday and this morning.
Graduation:
I got to see many friends and former students. I had my photo taken with my fellow graduates. Then the ceremony began. It went fast and it was great! When my name was called I walked across the stage and a friend yelled out "You go Bill!" This was the point my water works system started working. As my chair hooded me and I turned to hug him...I cried as I heard the speaker say what words I had chosen for him to say. I could not believe that the moment I had worked so hard for had finally arrived. I shook hands with the president of the school and then returned to my seat where I was remained emotional.
Words cannot describe completely all of the feelings I had the moment I walked across that stage. I told my parents how much I appreciated all they have done for me. I was thankful to all of my friends who have stood by me through this process. Upon this long road of education I have learned so much...and so much more about myself as a person. I have climbed the mountains placed before me...I have conquered my fears and have changed how I looked at others as well as myself. As I now stand at the top of the heights of my accomplishments I look out to see all of the people who I have come to know over the years...in all areas of my life, both in person and here on the internet...and I am truly blessed by those I have come to know.
I have so many things to be thankful for...my family, Scooter, my friends and all of the things I have received. Please know that as you read these words I send you my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the kindness and support that you have given to me on this long but successful road toward my completion of my doctorate.
My parents and I left for Carlin, NV on Wednesday evening. We stayed at the Comfort Inn and our room was right above the exit. The door below our room squeaked and bumped hard upon closing...so sleep was difficult after 3AM when a great number of truckers left for their respective routes.
Thursday morning we were up early and we were on our way before 6:30AM. It was a nice trip as my father and I shared the driving. The traffic in California was hideous! Bumper to bumper in some places but mostly from Sacramento to Fresno was millions of drivers...okay...maybe only half that. LOL!
We arrived in Fresno around 4PM. My presentation was set for 8PM. I took my parents to a market that has fresh produce and lots of other goodies! We got food from their salad bar and took it to the motel. We ate and then I got ready for the presentation. I drove there leaving plenty of time to setup and do some relaxing.
My presentation began promptly at 8PM. Part of the rite of passage is to get asked questions that are very difficult to answer because you have to think out and far beyond the box. Anxiety and panic raised its ugly head midway into the presentation. I fought it as well as I could...but there were times when I could not think of anything except...I wish it was over!
I finished my presentation and then my committee asked me to leave the room. I was soooo nervous! Then they asked me back in and started explaining how they wanted this part over here beefed up. They told me this followed by compliments and then my chair said, "We came to a decision...." I must have looked like I was having a heart attack as they told the committee member who was on the phone that they wished that they had a camera. Then they told me I passed. I felt like someone had taken the whole floor out from underneath me. Then I nearly cried with joy!
I drove back to the motel feeling like I had just been run over by a tank. Got there and told my parents of the results. I wanted to sleep. I woke up in the morning not feeling well.
I believe that I had food poisoning from the market where we got the salads. I had flu-like symptoms most of Friday and this morning.
Graduation:
I got to see many friends and former students. I had my photo taken with my fellow graduates. Then the ceremony began. It went fast and it was great! When my name was called I walked across the stage and a friend yelled out "You go Bill!" This was the point my water works system started working. As my chair hooded me and I turned to hug him...I cried as I heard the speaker say what words I had chosen for him to say. I could not believe that the moment I had worked so hard for had finally arrived. I shook hands with the president of the school and then returned to my seat where I was remained emotional.
Words cannot describe completely all of the feelings I had the moment I walked across that stage. I told my parents how much I appreciated all they have done for me. I was thankful to all of my friends who have stood by me through this process. Upon this long road of education I have learned so much...and so much more about myself as a person. I have climbed the mountains placed before me...I have conquered my fears and have changed how I looked at others as well as myself. As I now stand at the top of the heights of my accomplishments I look out to see all of the people who I have come to know over the years...in all areas of my life, both in person and here on the internet...and I am truly blessed by those I have come to know.
I have so many things to be thankful for...my family, Scooter, my friends and all of the things I have received. Please know that as you read these words I send you my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the kindness and support that you have given to me on this long but successful road toward my completion of my doctorate.