This past Monday was the culmination of three weeks' worth of frenzied studying, learning everything I could about gravitational waves. Rather a tall order, since I never took a course in general relativity to begin with, but I digress. Once I'd given my 20-minute, no-notes talk, and braved the following 60-plus minute question period, all that was left was to wait.

Yesterday the faculty met to decide everyone's fate, and shortly thereafter came the news -- I passed my special oral qualifying exam! It was a real relief, since I didn't know whether I'd passed (I didn't ace it the same way I aced the written quals). Thus, all the hurdles are behind me, and nothing stands between me and doing my thesis research. The pizza and beer were well-earned!

It's exciting that things are basically in my own hands from here on out. I have the opportunity to really take charge, stay focused, and get my research done and thesis written in as few years as possible. I hope I can prove up to the challenge!