I thought everything would be a breeze after submitting the draft. And, in many ways, it has been. I have internalized that perhaps I do have something to contribute to the debate, after all… More importantly, I have internalized that the way that I am framing that contribution in writing is acceptable for graduating. Yay!!! That is an amazing feeling. A big party is definitely coming around May next year…Between now and then I must still think a lot, read a lot and write a lot. I also need to master the data. Oh, the data… what a nightmare! During my almost 10-years break, the advances in computing and data visualization have been immense. One would think that that should be an advantage. Not so much… I has taken me over a year to realize that more than learning a new statistical package, I needed change my frame of mind when it comes to data.
I was so used to small yearly databases that I was basically trying to fit an XL sized database into an S sized t-shirt… like in real life, it just doesn’t work. And I was losing all the depth that justified using the database in the first place. Just last week the mental switch finally clicked and I am beginning to get some results!!
What is really pleasant about the timing of this is that, because data work is more repetition and trial and error than concentration, I can also follow the World Cup! Colombia had a great game on Sunday. It was EXHILARATING!.
My friends also convinced me to participate in a prediction game so, suddenly, I care about all the games! It is so so much fun, and a perfect complement to my world cup sticker album fun…which I finally completed!!!!
Mariangela Parra 