At the appointed hour I was led to the room like a lamb to the slaughter. 4 or 5 other students gathered silently in back to bear witness. My committee of distinguished professors gathered in front, looking slightly annoyed at having to be there. I began my presentation, 30 minutes of slides explaining my work and its relevance, to be followed by questioning from the committee.
Rebecca had picked up a few items from Trader Joes that I laid as offerings on the table before them: water, soda, chocolate. There were a few questions during the presentation, some nit-picking, some clarification. My classmates sensibly and graciously watched in silence. After an hour and another round of questioning, I was asked to leave the room while judgement was passed.
They beckoned me to return, where I anticipated a formal presentation and enumeration of the conditions of completion. Instead, the committee members pushed past me to exit as I was coming back. "Congratulations", said one. "Good job", said another. My advisor waited for me in the room. "You passed", she said.
And that was it.
A very anti-climactic end to a lengthy, occasionally stressful process. And I am done (with a very few minor revisions). So I packed up my belongings, walked to the subway, and came home, slightly dazed. But my lovely wife was waiting for me our newest wall decoration:
ps: I hope nobody actually ever calls me "Dr. Will"
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