I did it!
Defended my thesis today - passed with minor revisions :)
It’s been a long journey. Always dreamt of getting a PhD but faced a lot of trauma in college, had a professor tell me I was “never going to be PhD material”, left my undergrad institution with a 2.9 GPA, worked a couple years in a job I hated but got me through Covid, and now I finished my MS/PhD in 3.5 years. I cried a lot today because I can’t believe I did it. I just want to say - keep fighting, you will get through this even if it feels like the end is far away
Update: Thank you all so much for your congratulations and well wishes!!! I’m having a hard time responding to everyone but I appreciate all of you!