The morning started with a mix of excitement and dread. My stomach felt like it was doing the tango. We triple-checked our slides, practiced our presentations until our tongues were tied, and tried to calm our racing hearts. We knew we had put in the effort, but the thought of facing the panelists was still pretty scary. Honestly, we weren't as prepared as we wanted to be. There were gaps in our research, areas where we could have done better.
When it was our turn, I felt my knees turn to jelly. I started my presentation, and... well, let's just say my words stumbled a bit. I stuttered, I fumbled, and I even forgot a few key points! It was mortifying! My team members were amazing though, picking up the slack and keeping the presentation moving. We managed to answer the panelists’ questions, even if some of our responses were a little shaky.
The defense felt like a marathon, not a sprint. Each question felt like a hurdle, and each answer a small victory. The panelists were kind, though, offering helpful suggestions and pointing out areas for improvement. They weren't harsh, and that made a huge difference. In the end, they gave us some feedback and suggested a few revisions. It wasn't perfect, but it was okay.
Walking out of that room, the relief was immense. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. The nervousness melted away, replaced by a sense of accomplishment. Yes, there were stumbles, and yes, we weren’t perfectly prepared, but we did it. We defended our research. We learned so much throughout this entire process, not just about the topic itself, but about teamwork, perseverance, and the importance of facing our fears. Despite the stutters and the shaky moments, I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have learned so much. This experience has taught me valuable lessons that I'll carry with me for a long time. It was a challenging day, but ultimately, a rewarding one.
