I'm new on here so hi.
I'm a European History major who is "starting" a graduate (MA) program in August. I say "starting" in quotes because I was an accelerated undergrad, so I took grad classes during my last undergrad year in order to get my MA in one year rather than two (while staying at the same university). I graduated last month with my BA and am moving right along into this program.
I am a very anxious person (with my generalized anxiety disorder and major depression, mental health is always a bit of a challenge) so that's, predictably, starting to really come out in regards to my MA program. I have a lot of things going on in my personal life as well. The biggie in the personal life is... I'm 22 and (trying) to move out of the house for the first time. My mom is controlling and verbally abusive so it's a very difficult process.
But here are my program specific issues:
I'm supposed to have three committee members but, at this time, only have two. The professor who was going to be on my committee (when we discussed this around the time I was applying, etc) is taking a leave next year. This kind of jumbled my plan, as I'm unsure of other professors who would be a good match. I'm very happy with the other two on my committee so no complaints there! It's just an issue of pressure to get this last one.
I don't have my thesis topic figured out yet. I know I have time and won't be taking my thesis course (in order to do the writing) until Spring but I should be deciding and finalizing soon (in my opinion). My area of study, specifically, is the Holocaust and Nazi Germany. I have that part figured out (and have since my second year of college) but I have a really wide variety of topic interests and don't know how to narrow it down. There's also a matter of where are the sources I need (I'm limited to documents at the USHMM in DC due to travel expenses. I've been searching their archives and finding aids online) and what languages they're in (I know German and, obviously, English).
I feel like I'm not prepared and generally not good enough. Not much to be done there but it's definitely been a pain lately.
So I guess... does anyone have any advice on any of those points? Specifically the thesis topic bit?
Thanks.