Life, college, and the end of a postgraduate diploma

[annwfyn]

One of the oddest things about postgraduate, and indeed undergraduate education is the way it ends. Not so much with a bang, but with a whimper. There's all this stress, all this panic, all this build up to the End Of The Year. You work, and you work, and then whether that work is wasted or not comes down to your final assessment - exam, or coursework, or (in my case) the external examiner looking through my portfolio and final project report.

It's a big deal.

I know it's a big deal.

So why does handing that last piece of work in always feel so...anticlimactic.

I just handed in my museology journal, which is the last piece of work that the external examiners need to see. I handed in my final project report yesterday. My portfolio and final project has been in the hands of the head of course for some time. I'm done. I'm finished (well - sort of. There's another year of this if I don't screw up this assessment horribly), and I've been hyped up about this for weeks and now it's done I feel...

...I don't know...

...remarkably little. Tired, I guess. Distracted by other things. Almost indifferent, which is strange because on Saturday I was close to having panic attacks about this.

Now...nothing.

I'm home. I'm tired. I was meant to call adze if I finished work in time to go and hang out with him, but right now I suspect I'd be odd company, and I don't feel as if I can cope with many more people after the marathon of sociability I've had over the last week. I don't know how the final assessments will go. I don't think I care right now.

I think I just want to go and get in a bath, and wait and see what tomorrow turns into.

Coz then my life begins again...

Comments

[kizzie.livejournal.com]

I know how you feel there... had exactly the same thing with finishing my exams, and handing in the final year project...

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

It's because, well, handing things in is a non-event.

If you handed them in and instantly got a mark, then it might be a bit more climatic. But all that really happens is that you hand stuff in and embark on a period in limbo, waiting.

Have a bath. That's what limbo is for :)

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

My advice is to go have a bang up ceklebration. Make the whimper become a bang. Call up everyone you know and assign a location they must come to ASAP to celebrate your completion and impending fabulous marks, or alternatively get everyone from your course to come along as well.

My last day I went on to a job interview immediately afterwards then went out with Jo and my brother and got absolutely hammered, then went and saw a play with Patrick Stewart's soothing, calming voice... I so nearly slept all the way through.

You've done something big, sure the universe doesn't notice, but that's what friends are for.

[commlal.livejournal.com]

I know, its odd.

I have exam on tuesday, I have to spend all weekend studing and stuff, then I'm off to the pub to get drunk and have Greg carry me home. Ergo, Collage Arms Tuesday?

[melsner.livejournal.com]

It sounds like post-partem depression.

If you're not feeling it emotionally, then cheat. Have some kind of special celebration or treat to reward yourself. Otherwise, you could write a polite letter suggesting that a brass band be on hand when people turn in their projects and that they be given ice cream.

Gratz. You are a very clever and hard working Sally. :)

[cairmen.livejournal.com]

I had a similar weekend.

Handed the rough cut of BloodSpell in to the Edinburgh Film Festival last week.

(Just heard back that they're not interested today - oh, well.)

[cairmen.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Melsner's suggestion is an excellent one.