It's been over a week since I turned in my thesis. Leaving the English department, I had visions of long afternoons in the sun, road trips, movies, staying out late and getting up even later. I fantasized about never seeing Firestone again, about having cocktails at 4:30 p.m. and spending weekday evenings hanging out instead of studying. At least that was the way that the post-thesis period had been traditionally portrayed.
In actuality, however, I've found it to be a little different. I feel a little out of sorts, even, perhaps, a little bored. It's not that I want my thesis back. No, definitely not. But, having spent so much time working on it for so long, I'm now at somewhat of loss for how to spend this new free time. What am I supposed to do all day?
I just enumerated a number of activities with which I could kill a few hours. Part of my problem is that since departments all have different due dates, a number of my friends are still working on theses and are loathe to participate in movie marathons or late night dancing. Your friends who are done want to play; your friends who aren't don't want to hear about it.
Also, however, I still have some work to do. Taking two classes, while not the heaviest course load, still requires that I do some work. And, as we all know, Princeton students aren't necessarily good at moderation. I can feel myself getting sucked into not doing anything, while my Type A overachieving personality is directing me back to the library.
I'm not the only one to be experiencing these difficulties. While there are, I'm sure, a number of readers who can't necessarily identify with my problem, I have found, for the most part, that post-thesis seniors are in the same boat as I am. We're trying to figure out a new routine, something that can balance a smaller work load with more fun and hangout time without overdoing either.
As I try to fill my days with an equilibrium between work and play, I'm wishing I had gone on a post-thesis trip. A number of my friends are spending weeks in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Costa Rica and other various and sundry warm and sunny places. It's a good idea, I think: They get some concentrated "fun time," a chance to blow off steam from writing their thesis and an opportunity to get away from campus. Away from Princeton, they probably don't feel the pull of class work and infectious anxiety of underclassmen. And I'm sure they'll come back with great tans.
As the number of days before graduation dwindles, I am learning how to deal with this new found free time. I do my work; I hang out, and, while I'm doing one, I try not to worry about the other. It's funny: I'm so used to thinking about the things I have to do for school that it's hard to remember that I don't necessarily have that much on my plate.
Still, post-thesis life doesn't necessarily mean all-play-and-no-work. But it's getting warmer out (finally) and I better go work on my tan.
John Lurz is an English major from Lutherville, Md.
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