My Thesis Journey: Navigating the Challenges of a Third Year College

Annyeonghaseyo chingu ( Hello friends), Maya is here again, it's been 2 months after my last blog. Hoping that you have a great day. Today, let me share to you one of my challenges in my 3rd Year College. So Let's get started!

received_1669244213616676.jpeg

Embarking on the third year of the thesis journey in college is a milestone of academic life. That is such an exciting journey, full of challenges that allow us to grow a bit more every time, both in academics and personally. Here is a sneak peek of my experience.

IMG_20240306_145449.jpg

IMG_20240306_145441.jpg

The Beginning: Choosing a Topic

In so doing, one had to choose a thesis by topic. This was no mean task. We wanted something that captured not only our interest but also something that was of relevance and manageable with resources and time at hand. After weeks of brainstorming and consultations with our advisors, we finally landed on a topic that sparked our curiosity and passion.

Picsart_23-11-09_22-05-43-801.jpg

The Proposal: Crafting and Approval

Next in line was the proposal phase. Writing a proposal was the equivalent of preparing the ground for the high-rise. It needed accuracy, clarity, and a great sense of the depth of our chosen topic. We had numerous hours of researching, writing, and reviewing past our proposal. Nervousness took over when presenting our proposal before the committee, but the feedback proved invaluable to the process. Their approval of the proposal restored a new and refreshing sense of purpose and provided a clear direction.

IMG20240313220019.jpg

IMG20240313215955.jpg

IMG20240311104440.jpg

1710176888094.jpg

IMG20240601144141.jpg

The Research: Diving Deep

With the proposal duly accepted, research work was expected to go on full throttle thereafter. This was an exhilarating phase but also quite tiring. Times when the day turned into night in the library, pouring through academic journals: gathering data, the more we knew, the more we realized how big and intricate our topic was. There were times with frustration at places where data was hard to find, or theories didn't align. However, with these challenges, very important lessons on how to struggle on and be adaptable have been taught.

Writing the thesis was much like giving life to a piece of art. It would need me to assimilate all the information that we had gathered into one coherent and convincing narrative. It would call for discipline and dedication at this stage. We set small, achievable goals so we could monitor our progress. Late-night writing sessions became the norm, powered by the coffee and desire to do it.
After the first draft was prepared, the stage of revision started. It was a time to develop our points, clarify the message, and make sure it possessed academic rigidity. At this stage, we was in desperate need of feedback from peers and advisors. Constructive criticism from their side helped us look through different lenses at our work and improve it in general.

received_325208107310749.jpeg

received_1027276728764111.jpeg

received_432763646202501.jpeg

The Presentation: Sharing Our Findings

Nearly completing the thesis, the presentation of our thesis to the audience was almost the final step. We took moments like that to share one's experience and knowledge of the study and the findings, general results achieved in the study. Producing power point presentations, practicing the speech, and anticipating possible questions by the human participants was rather frightening and very interesting at the same time. It was that big moment of pride or accomplishment.

received_1571748793398534.jpeg

received_3632489467011018.jpeg

received_740135794725063.jpeg

Reflection: Lessons Learned

The journey to this thesis was just transformative. We learned a lot of invaluable skills, like critical thinking, time management, and effective communication. More than that, it imbued us with a passion for research and discovery. It was definitely not easy, but with each struggle, this achievement became more satisfying.

received_971120257836212.jpeg

received_721017373385210.jpeg

received_1606965393180463.jpeg

Conclusion: Moving Forward

We come out of this process with the big lessons and experiences in our pocket that a thesis journey reserves. It has prepared us not just for later academic pursuits but also, professionally. To those in the early stages of their thesis journey, our advice is to stay curious, stay resilient, and lean into the process. It's a journey worth taking.

This has been a turning point in my college life, in the sense of development, learning, and achievement. I look forward to what the future holds with all the knowledge and experience that I've acquired.

You've already reached the end of my blog, thank you for reading chingu🤗