1. Although people try to explain to you what it's like, you really have no idea until you're there.
2. Many meetings with doctors.
3. Many sleepless nights.
4. A lack of obvious markers that reveal how well you're doing.
5. An initial sense that you are way out of your league.
6. You can't get over the feeling that you are not doing as well as so-and-so who constantly has it all together and was obviously born to do this.
7. For a time, everything else fades to black.
8. Reduced discretionary funds.
9. Increased caffeine.
10. Encounters with a lot of literature by a lot of experts, only some of whom are truly competent.
11. To some people, the end result may look quite similar to the end result produced by others. But you see the subtle nuances and exceptional uniqueness that is your baby (be it a dissertation or an actual baby).
Others?
Very, very nice. I'll have to think if I can come up with any more...
ReplyDeleteGF says: It takes a long time to find out the results of your experiment.
ReplyDeleteSF says: It's a good time to meet a man of your dreams.
Tracy Stobbe says: Very funny. I particularly like no. 4 and no. 10. One way parenting is completely different though is we don't want peer-review of that work!
ReplyDeleteHow about: people who haven't done either assume you aren't really doing much all day.
ReplyDelete