After two years of hard work, I am now a Master of Science.  My thesis defense on May 21st was INTENSE, but I did a good job and got it done.  Along with my good friends from school, I had several special guests in attendance at my defense.  My Mom and Dad drove up from Dallas, my friend Niffer took time off work, and my friend Justin attended with his and Jen's 3-month old baby!  The support from my friends and family was enormous, and I am thankful to everyone who attended :)

I wish I would have written a blog entry immediately after the defense, but I was too physically exhausted.  I had been visualizing myself giving my defense for quite a while, but once I got up there, my brain went into auto-pilot.  My defense wasn't as passionate as I had envisioned, it was more technical and matter-of-fact.  When I was done with the presentation, it was like I stepped out of a trance - quite a 'wow' moment.  After the presentation, the audience asked some questions - a few of them stumped me, but I recovered.  After standing up and talking for about an hour, the audience and I were dismissed while my committee (plus 2 visitors) talked in private for about 30 minutes.  I was pretty pissed that additional members could sit in and discuss my work with my committee.  Although my fate did not lie in those 2 visitors hands, I have to believe that they had some influence on it.  Then, the committee + 2 invited me back for additional questioning -- I went through 45 minutes of ROUGH questions while all my friends and family waited outside.  Sorry guys!  I guess you'll never know what went on in there, but thesis "defense" is definitely a good descriptor.

I've heard of some grad students who have given their defense, asked one question from the audience, and given the 'okay' from the committee without many questions.  I rationalize my intense questioning by assuming that my work was unique and difficult, and that it inspired my committee to ask difficult questions.  Particles and gases don't skip along in the atmosphere wearing name tags.  If they did, I wouldn't have a job!!