After several months of hard work, I recently finished my dissertation to obtain my master's degree at Queen's University Belfast. I must say that they were not easy months, that maintaining perseverance and discipline involved some of my greatest efforts, but as I progressed and saw the achievements I was obtaining, the satisfaction about what I had done increased.

Submitting a dissertation is a significant milestone, and the emotions and reflections that come after can be a mix of relief, pride, exhaustion, and perhaps a bit of uncertainty. These are some of the final reflections that my dissertation at Queen's left me with, and that can surely be useful for you if you are about to begin this journey.

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The truth about choosing a dissertation topic

It is normal to feel insecure when starting to write a thesis. At first, I felt overwhelmed by not being sure about the topic I wanted to research and write my thesis on. I was uncertain thinking that I would not find the necessary sources, that I had too little time for what I wanted to do, or that suddenly the topic would not seem so interesting. The first truth that few will tell you is that there is nothing you want to write about that has most likely not been written on before.

Do not worry about being innovative, rather try to be original and propose a new approach to the topic you want to talk about. The world is too big, and history is too broad to think that no one has ever thought what you are thinking now. In that order of ideas, stop worrying about wanting to be innovative and instead focus on defending why your point of view is relevant.

There is nothing more difficult than getting started

Let's imagine that you already have your topic chosen and that you more or less have a planned strategy to achieve your research objectives. However, finding the will and desire to start writing can be the most challenging. I recommend that you maintain constant communication with your supervisor, and better if he or she is as interested in your research topic as you are, so that he or she can inspire and motivate you.

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Also, try to nourish yourself with enough material and sources of information so that you can start writing notes on your topic. Don't pressure yourself about where to start, I didn't start with the instruction but with the literature review and so it was easier for me to write along the way.

Embrace frustration

Sometimes the path of writing a thesis is not as linear as one would expect. There may come times when things are not going as you had planned and this is more the norm than you would think and it happens to many of us.

In particular, the research method that I had planned to use was not implemented and halfway through I had to innovate and execute a new plan so as not to throw away what I had already done. Clearly I felt frustrated, but I did not allow this frustration to stagnate me, on the contrary, I embraced it and used it as a motivation to keep going and find new solutions to keep investigating and writing my thesis.

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Why do I feel guilty when I take a break?

This is the worst feeling of all and it is the hardest to fight against. Many times we think that the more work we do on our thesis, the better the result will be and that therefore we have to work tirelessly and without rest. Do not allow yourself to fall into these toxic thoughts and give your body and mind the rest they need. Sleep the hours you need to sleep, take whole days off from thinking about the thesis, and if you can take a few weeks off and travel, do not stop doing it! The thesis doesn't have to overshadow other important aspects of your life, so don't put aside those things you like to do, and that way you can feel more motivated to write.

The ending is always the most boring part of the writing process

By the final stretch of my dissertation process, I had already finished so many times in my mind that I had a hard time writing the ending. I don't know what the psychology behind this is, because finishing something is always hard, and the thesis is no exception. I always found an excuse not to do the final part (because I was so confident that I already knew how it should end, and what the reflections and conclusions of my research were) that I would postpone it for another day and delay finishing my thesis, however, I was motivated by the fact that my thesis would no longer be my first and last thought of the day. Surround yourself with stimuli that allow you to finish this project so that you can enjoy your new freedom.

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The satisfaction of finishing

Finishing the dissertation is a deeply gratifying experience. After so much time spent researching and writing, handing in that final work brings a feeling of relief and pride. It is the closing of a stage full of effort and learning, and at the same time, proof of how much progress has been made. All that process of discovery and growth is now reflected in the document, and knowing that all that work has come to fruition generates a calm satisfaction, like a well-deserved respite before what is to come.

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Isabella Barros De La Rosa Violence, Terrorism and Security | Postgraduate Student | Colombia Hello, my name is Isabella Barros, I am 24 years old and I am from a beautiful city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia called Barranquilla.  I am very into running and outdoor activities. That's why Belfast is so amazing to live in, because of the landscapes, and the spaces for this kind of hobby. Besides running and studying, you can find me in any bookstore, wandering around the city, or enjoying a pleasant coffee in a cute cafe!