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The Real Thesis Acknowledgements I Wanted to Write But Couldn’t
Disclaimer: I may have shed a few tears while writing this
Rule 19 of the 40 Rules of Love: ‘Fret not where the road will take you. Instead concentrate on the first step. That is the hardest part and that is what you are responsible for. Once you take that step let everything do what it naturally does and the rest will follow. Don’t go with the flow. Be the flow.’
I couldn’t summarise a degree’s worth of thank-yous into a paragraph of acknowledgements so here it is:
Firstly, I want to thank God for giving me the strength to complete this project and produce this piece of work. Thank you for getting me through the stress, moving back in with my family mid-year, the second wave of Covid-19, a full lockdown, the panic attacks that resurfaced, the academic obstacles– all while having to finish a Masters project. Thank you. Alhamdullilah.
I want to thank my parents. I want to thank my mother, who completed a PhD while raising 2 young daughters and just goes about her life quietly and peacefully. You are too humble. I will brag on your behalf. You are my hero, my role model and my heart in human form. I think about all the sacrifices you have done for Sara and I and I just cannot put into words what you mean to me. I know that your prayers are what got me through the past 4 years.
I want to also thank my father. You have a way of downplaying your achievements by using humour. You are loud when it comes to jokes and lifting everyone’s spirits but quiet about how much work you put into our family. Thank you for showing me what it’s like to rediscover a passion and follow your dreams. Thank you for being there for me now the same way you were there for me when I took my first steps, when I had primary school competitions and when I graduated secondary school.
I want to thank my sister. Thank you for handling all my shit. You are my secret keeper and as much as I am ashamed to admit it, you sometimes take too much shit from me. I am sorry if I lashed out at you when my anger was actually (embarrassingly) because my code wasn’t working. Thank you for sharing every failure before every success with me. You are the greatest gift mamy and papy have ever given me.
