1:07PM

That is the time stamp of when I turned in my dissertation prospectus to my advisor. 

For those of you who may be like, what are these terms: the dissertation prospectus is, at least in our program, a summary/overview of our dissertation plan. With my advisor, this two-page prospectus is what we use then to form our dissertation committee— the body of people who will guide and (hopefully) ultimately approve your research. In a lot of ways, this is the (in)formal declaration that you are ready to begin dissertating. 

The whole process feels like an out-of-body experience, and as I'm sitting here at Philz (a coffee chain), typing away, I don't think it has hit me yet that I sent it in, (and by no means, is the prospectus approved.) And yet, in celebration of small victories because every step counts, today, at 1:07PM, after a summer of anxiety, fears, procrastination, cleaning, rest, vacations, relaxation, and more, I sent a prospectus over.