Ph.inisheD.

So... a year ago, around this time I had just turned in my completed doctoral dissertation to my DAC (Dissertation Advisory  Committee). Fast forward to this belatedly reported news: I'm a doctor!!!! Ph.D. to be exact. Not to be confused with the other Dr. Tolley, Marc, who is an M.D. I have my Ph.D. in Public Health, very different. After being Ph.atigueD. for 5 years I am now Ph.inisheD. !!!

I technically finished in December 2013 and graduated in January 2014. But I walked in May 2014 and had the wonderful support of my parents, brother, husband, and girls with me. There is sooooooooooooo very much to say about this Ph.D. ordeal. Event. Saga. Experience. But in an effort to keep up on my blog (that seems like a lame reason as I write it out!) and to keep my sanity and verbosity in check, I think I'll just post some pictures! Yay!

Tidbits or highlights to remember:
-My dissertation: A Study of the Evolution of Food Security Discourse, Mobilization and Congressional Champions. Ask me about it sometime!
-My dissertation defense was an AWESOME, wonderful, invigorating, peaceful, amazing experience! Not many get to say that. But after all the stress and nervousness leading up to the big day, I woke up the morning of November 22nd and I felt totally happy and at peace. It was SUCH  a happy day. It was a happy experience! I loved my DAC. I loved my defense.
-I had 4 days to make revisions after my defense and submit my revised dissertation to the grad school. Oh, my, stressful!
-I feel so incredibly grateful to all the people who helped me, supported me, believed in me, prayed for me during these 5 grueling years! To me, it takes a village to raise a dissertation. THANK YOU.
-Graduation at Temple was... eh. I can say that Wellesley and Yale really shine in comparison in terms of pomp and circumstance. HOWEVER, graduating with my friend and sympathetic comrade, Christen, made graduation SO fun. We were totally on a high! It was thrilling! We were pumped to celebrate!
-Hood fiasco. And that's all I have to say about that.
-It was so wonderful to have my girls there with me, to see them wave at me. I hope that they remember that they can do anything they want. They can achieve great things. I know they had no idea what we were celebrating, but I could tell they were happy for me and proud of me. Break my little heart.

I will say that I am so happy I did it. I'm so happy it's over. And I really, really hope that I get to use it. Someday. So far, haven't used it much. But I am now, supposedly, an expert in food security and/or public health policy!