PhD Ponderings

Ponderings #22 - Grads have left the building

It's always sad when a graduate student from your class or group leaves. In a way, it's unbelievable.

Overhead after a thesis seminar:
"This guy has been here for YEARS! I didn't know leaving was possible!"
"Hmm, looks like the mold is coming off the wall, guys!"
"What are we going to do without you?"
"What? You're still here?"

Thesis seminars are sad moments. I have to admit, a single tear nearly escaped from my eyes at the last one. It may have been the sadness of separation, or of knowing I'm stuck here, or of insane jealousy.

The seminar itself was polished over weeks. Powerpoint figures made in Illustrator with terrific graphics. A high-tech laser pointer. A laptop computer so fast it's warped. And then, the seminar begins.

Only it doesn't How many PhDs does it take to get a presentation on the screen? We may never know. Only the tech guy could get it going.

Finally, the presentation - crisp, clear, making mountains out of amazing work that I didn't even know existed! Multiple papers glowing in red and green. It was like an early Christmas.

Afterwards, we had a reception. As graduate students, we are duty-bound to descend on free food. Cheese platters, fruits, sandwiches, and even alcohol! It was almost too much to bear. Almost, but not quite.

Only one student refused the fine fare. Apparently, he was "full." Full! I couldn't believe it. A graduate student who refused free food. Somehow, something was wrong.

And then it struck me: he was on the verge of graduating. He was near the edge, ready to fall off into oblivion.

So that's what happens when you graduate: you become a responsible adult. You actually purchase food. You (gasp) stop taking freebies from product shows. In short, you lose all semblance of being a caveperson. It's all so sad.

But all I know is, if and when I leave, I'm taking the laser pointer with me.