On Monday morning, Mr. Geeky and I were riding to work together and he says, “You know, I think you could finish your degree.” He went on to explain how, mainly by switching topics and advisors. He also promised to do laundry. So I emailed a friend of mine back at my home institution and she said, “No, you’re not crazy. Besides, you could write the dissertation in your sleep at this point; you’ve done so much work in this area.” So I called my potential advisor. He didn’t think I was crazy either. So it looks like it might happen. There are some practical considerations that might prevent it from happening. I have to get special dispensation from my department (not a problem at all) and the graduate school (potentially more problematic, but not impossible). So there is still a chance that something could prevent me from doing this on that front.

When I was attempting to finish my degree before, I really didn’t have my heart in it. I didn’t like my topic. I had been kind of pushed into it–mostly peer pressure. I also felt a lot of pressure to make the dissertation really good since I needed that work to get me a faculty position. Now, I have no desire to get a faculty position. I’m really doing this for myself. What a difference that makes.