The Best Thesis in the World

If you're thinking that my geek side took the best of me, then you're mistaken. I'm not going to brag about my "Simulation of 2D Time-Independent Quantum Wells", but I would rather like to share the story during the times when I was NOT doing it.

Introduction

During the initial phase of writing the introduction, I found out
that my girlfriend (my wife now) was pregnant. Unlike me, whose graduation was continuously delayed, Jody was teaching at a very respectable Catholic school back then. She's got a big future ahead of her career. But the words "pregnant" and "single" does not add up in the Mathematics of Catholic school. It was hard for her to let go of the work. She was able to save some money for our son's delivery, and some for my tuition before filing a resignation.

Methodology

Jobless and desperate to finish my thesis. I joined the bandwagon of job hunting.. I remembered applying to everything: a small printing press in Cubao, a group home-based web developers in Krus na Ligas, to IT companies in Ortigas and Makati. I was fortunate to have landed as an IT programmer in Makati. As it turned out they saw my online portfolio of Flash games and digital drawings (Ironically, these are the reasons why I flunked my GE subjects).

"You'll be paid P760" said the HR manager after signing the contract. "Per month?" I asked happily and naively. She looked at me with pity... "Per day, iho." I felt stupid but even happier.

Scope and Limitation

My old thesis adviser filed for a Sabbatical leave. She was suffering from symptoms suggesting Alzheimer's disease. I was transferred to another laboratory, and had to change my thesis. I was literally back to scratch and was running out of itch (to scratch... get it?!... ah, never mind). I worked with the IT firm for 3 months, but had to let go since I had to finish my thesis while taking 2 more subjects.

Jody and I got married in front of a Judge under a very comical process which I'll reserve to share some other time. My Godfathers were my best friends Ryan and Aris who fortunately were sober during the ceremony.

Since the honeymoon took place before the marriage, we simply celebrated eating at Greenwich Philcoa. The Godfathers weren't invited since we were under a very controlled budget.

Conclusion

After nine months of sleepless research and studies, I was able to finish running all simulations. After nine months, my son Jajas was born.

Jajas was three months old when I defended my thesis in front of a panel of Physics professors. It was a thesis made from sweat and blood. A thesis for my son and my wife. A thesis I considered to be the closure to my reckless college life.

So what did I learn from my thesis experience?
For one thing, having a family before your thesis will make the dedication part of the book, very meaningful.