Lessons from a thesis student

Emily Graetz reflects on the lessons to be learnt from the thesis writing process. 

I’m halfway through my honours year with so much work left to do it’s terrifying. But in true half-glass full spirit, I’ve spent some time reflecting on what I’ve already learnt about myself, others and working in academia. 

1. Too much of your self-worth comes from academic success

I chose to do a thesis because I love learning and digging into the nitty gritty of an unexplored or complicated topic. But to be honest, I also chose to do honours because so much of my self-worth comes from my academic success. This is an ugly realisation to have - no one wants to say they study just for the sake of getting good grades! 

It’s something I’m sure many academics can relate to but thankfully, it’s not all doom and gloom! Once you come to this realisation you can start the work in detaching your self worth from your academic success, at least a little bit. The thesis is such a brilliant chance to navigate the exciting terrains of intellectual endeavour and it should be so much more than a number on a piece of paper. Learning to re-evaluate your self-worth is a confronting thing to do but it’s an important step in ensuring you actually find the joy and excitement in your studies. 

2. The thesis forces you to sit with your feelings of uncertainty about the future

At any given time, I will have 4 to 5 planners scheduling and ordering my life down to the hour. Whilst not always conducive to spontaneity (give me 2 weeks notice please), it has been the best way for me to cope with my anxiety and general stress. As I get closer and closer to finishing my degree though, I’ve realised that a lot of this planning comes from my constant desire to control the future.

Doing an honours thesis forces you to confront the reality (or at least acknowledge its lurking presence) that you don’t have constant control over your life and that you can’t always hide behind your daily planner. Whether it’s your worry about getting a job or your struggles with self-directed work, a thesis forces you to sit with one (very big) thing for a whole year. Whilst ‘living in the moment’ is an idealistic expectation for someone bogged down in months of research and writing, the thesis process encourages you to sit with those feelings of uncertainty rather than running away from them. 

3. Academic research is as much about listening to stories as it is about telling them

I genuinely enjoy writing - I love the process of crafting ideas and arguments with these funny little things we call words. But as one of my lecturers reminded me, I wouldn’t be writing a thesis or choosing to investigate new ideas if I thought I already had all the answers. 

There’s no doubt that writing a thesis requires you to take on the lofty role of researcher but that doesn’t mean endless and unconditional authority. Research is a collective process and draws on the knowledges and lived experiences of many different people - not just academics. It involves listening to the stories the data tells you and seeking out answers beyond your initial assumptions. Whether you’re a science or arts student, the thesis is a process of questioning rather than simply telling. 

4. You’re never truly working alone

I always thought I preferred working alone. Whether it was collaborative art projects in primary school or group assignments in university, the thought of having to complete an academic task with other people sends chills down my spine. Given this, the idea of doing a solo research project for a whole year should have thrilled me! But surprisingly, the most fulfilling part of my research has been collaborating with my fellow honours students. Whether it be the classroom discussions, late night group-chat rants or the philosophical coffee breaks, my classmates have been the biggest support system and guide in my thesis so far. 

Working alongside such passionate students, even those doing completely different topics, reinforces the fact that so much of our learning, theorising and conceptualising actually happens outside the formal boundaries of the classroom. Studying alone or alongside friends, there’s no doubt that we don’t give enough credit to those quiet moments of academic collaboration! Keep leaning on the strength of your academic support network as the year goes on.

Photography by Andy Wang.