melach*

Hey guys, It's been a long time since I called out to you on this forum asking if anyone had ever experienced what I did with regards to writing the MA thesis. First off, just knowing that other people had been going through the same as me meant a whole lot. Looking back, that season was one of the hardest thus far in life. In retrospect I see how it consumed my whole life and drained me of anything good, I never thought writing could do that to me! I actually think that I wrestled in my thoughts with the idea that I could not do it, that I am not smart and should not be writing an MA thesis, just really demotivating myself, which - as we all know - is not the best way to start such a big task. All that being said though, I am happy to announce that I actually finished my thesis December 2014, and received my MA degree in TEFL in January 2015! (If anyone ever reads this:) Why did it take so long? Well, for starters, I got a job as a language teacher before the thesis was done, and I somehow though that "it'll take a couple of months getting into the new job, and then I'll finish off the thesis!" Probably not the wisest decision of my life. Although working was good in many ways, I always had this weight on my shoulders that I couldn't shrug off; I knew I HAD to finish the thesis. So after over three years of never really relaxing but always either working (what felt like more than) full time with teacher things (it takes a whole lot longer than a couple of months to get into it) and the thesis, I was finally done. And what do you know, last week I just got offered a new job at a better school than the one I am currently working at. All this despite of the fact that I was not able to work with the thesis the way I planned, which resulted in the thesis itself being less than I imagined, but that does not really matter. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if I could do it, so can you (again, if anyone ever reads this), just DON'T GIVE UP. And please, allow yourself to live even when you feel like you never deserve a break. No break will break you (I just made that up). No but really, good enough is great, especially when you are in a place where not finishing something is about to break you as a person. A thesis, or whatever, can be perfect in your imagination, but don't let the idea of perfect keep you from writing things that are less than perfect. You are not your thesis. You are so much more. Ok, so just wanted to say thanks to those who showed support when I posted this some years ago. It really made a difference, and I've come back many times to read it again. Thanks!

lions

I have a MacBook Pro 13". I used to have a 15" dell; the MBP is definitely lighter and a lot more tote friendly. I guess I find the screen a bit small sometimes, but it doesn't really bother me that much, there's so much else about it that I really like. Like I said, I used to have a bigger screen, but it was not as easy to carry around (though I'm guessing that a 15" MBP would be somewhat lighter than my old dell:)

Thanks @NeuroGal, appreciate it. It's good to know that someone else have knows how it feels to be overwhelmed by it all (although I wouldn't like people to go through the same), and it's even better to know that you made it through:) I have tried what you said, just write and not think too much about how perfect or not perfect it sounds, and though I still find it challenging I will keep on pushing. And focus on the small things, that's definitely a challenge at this point, but I know that that's what I have to do. I had an appointment with my advisor today and he told me that he thinks I'm going to make it, that really boosted my confidence to know that he's not given up on the project. Thanks for sharing your experiences!

Hi, I am currently writing my MA thesis...or that is, I am having trouble writing it... It has to be done by this coming summer, and I should have written a LOT more on it than I have so far. I have already collected my data and I have started on writing the thesis, but I just have a hard time continuing. Like it has turned to a huge mountain that I just can't climb; the whole thing just drains me and it affects my life a lot. Like I avoid talking to my friends and family about it, because I know when they ask how far I have come on my thesis, I can't really tell them I have made a lot of progression from last time they asked. I went through before Christmas too, and my advisor told me to take a few weeks off during the holidays and focus on something else (which I did for a few days, until I got the flu and spend my days sleeping it off). After Christmas, I did get quite a lot done, but now it seems like I'm right back at where I was before Christmas... I have written about 20 pages, and it is supposed to be 80-100. When I write, I find myself correcting everything I write, thinking that I should have said it in a different way or used different terms, and it often results in frustration rather than pages. I also get overwhelmed by the whole "knowing what theory to include and not" perspective; it gets to the point where I read theory, just to find that I have no clue what I should derive from it and not. I'm new to writing an MA thesis, it's just a lot bigger than anything I've done earlier. I have been thinking about dropping out, but I know I will regret it. Like, I've come this far, I have taken MA classes the past year, and now I have this semester (plus this summer) to finish the thesis; what other option is there really than to keep going? Have any of you experienced what I'm going through? Anyone have any advice on what to do? If you do, I'd love to hear them! PS, I may add that some days are better than others, it's just been too many of the ad days lately, and the days are moving towards summer....