A.B.D.

In the program I am in, the process of obtaining the doctoral degree includes several steps: 

1. Taking an exam after fundamental coursework (doctoral screening exam)
2. Finishing required coursework
3. Taking another exam called our qualifying exam after that

And today, I finished one more marker: advancing to candidacy, or as we say: All But Dissertation, or for shorthand: ABD. 

ABD means that the "only" thing that is left between me and the Ph.D. after my full name, is the dissertation (*insert snort because the "only" is truly A LOT*) . ABD is the marker that I can now start THE THING because the amazing committee I have (all five of them) approved the dissertation proposal. For us, the proposal consists of the first three chapters of what will eventually become my dissertation:

• Chapter 1: The introduction (and research questions)
• Chapter 2: The background, the existing research on the topic, the theories I'll be using
• Chapter 3: the methodology and methods of the research design

I feel grateful, relieved, and a little at odds because the whole thing doesn't feel real.  I've spent the better half of a year working on this thing, and it's finally here. And like this entire process, I could not have done it alone. This is one of my most favorite photos, because it shows the incredible people who consist of the community who support me, love me, care for me, call me out, remind me to eat, make sure I have a live outside of "the work," and demonstrate radical love day in and day out. They're not big fans of hugging, and truthfully, neither am I, but in the joyous celebration, they agreed to my plea for a group hug <3