Jon Stewart and Dissertations

November 28th marks the birth of Jon Stewart. The former host of The Daily Show has a few words of wisdom for dissertation students everywhere…

If you try to hit a grand slam, you’re going to strike out.
— Jon Stewart

Your dissertation doesn’t have to be a grand slam. It doesn’t have to solve all the world’s problems. It doesn’t have to solve any of the world’s problems!

In fact the only problem your dissertation has to solve is your lack of a doctoral degree!

Too many doctoral students never finish because they never give themselves permission to do so.

Don’t fall into this trap. Just get your dissertation done!

I feel your scorn, and I accept it.
— Jon Stewart

Such is the relationship of most dissertation students with their committees!

You have to remember one thing about the will of the people: it wasn’t that long ago that we were swept away by the Macarena.
— Jon Stewart

Whatever “feedback” your committee shares with you about your dissertation, it is just the opinion of those few people. They aren’t necessarily “right,” and you aren’t necessarily “wrong.”

What they have going for them is the fact that they decide when you have completed your dissertation and you can graduate!

So, don’t let your committee members cause you to doubt yourself. Their opinion is simply that, the opinion of three people who really won’t have any influence whatsoever over you once you graduate.

Just give’m what they want, so that you can graduate as soon as possible… and they can go back to doin’ the Macarena!