Independence and Dissertations

Today, July 4th, is Independence Day in the U.S. Although I like to keep this missive light-hearted and maybe even a little humorous, today I think that it’s important to consider the magnitude of the actions of those who came before us — and, of course, to mention how those actions tie into your dissertation…

So, in 1776, a bunch of guys who were rich and privileged by most of our standards threw down the proverbial gauntlet at the richest, most powerful force of their day, the British Empire.

They were far from confident in a successful outcome. Indeed, most fully expected to be captured and hanged as traitors, but they had reached a breaking point. They had decided that enough was enough. Without a clear plan they firmly resolved to free themselves of an oppressive force.

Sound familiar? So many students confess their dissertation to be a colossal weight on their shoulders, a constant source of stress and anxiety, and dark cloud always hanging low overhead.

The first step in freeing yourself from this tyranny? Declaring your freedom! Even if you don’t have a plan forward right now, you must resolve to take action to acheive your goal. Of course, the next step is to develop a plan to lead you from where you are right now to graduation.