Inside the Black Box

You know you are a dork for two reasons:
1. You get excited when people talk about your research in public, and you think that equates you with a celebrity.
2. You use your readings from your doctoral seminars and apply them to your life.

So, for all of you in my cohort that might follow my blog, you will all be shocked to know that I am in the black box. I have been black boxed! It is funny though.
I was in my final class for health comm last night. This is a small class--less than 15 students. People know your name. Keep that in mind. The last presentation was about text messaging, intimacy, and romantic relationships. I was pumped--my thesis was on instant messaging, intimacy and romantic relationships. I read and followed the slides, nodding my head at the common citations on LDRs, intimacy and IM. I looked at the citations and was confused--all from 2006. Interetsing. I have read the articles so many times that I know the year, and I know it was not 2006.

During the Q&A session, I raised my hand. I had to comment. I thought the study was such a cool idea. So, I am telling this first year Master's student, who I can tell wants to tell me to shut my pie hole, how cool her study was. I was explaining that I had done a similar study on IM, and I made all sorts of suggestions. She said yeah she based it off a thesis written by "some chick named Ali."

A smile spread across my face for two reasons. First, this girl was such a dumbass to not know that was my thesis (my thesis has come up in class and in talking to her before). And second, she essentially followed my exact study (lit review, method) to a T except that she replaced IM with text messaging. So, I smile at the girl and say, "Yep, that's me. That's my thesis." There was a small outburst. One of the girls was like "oh my God, I totally read your thesis." The girl presenting blushed, and she started talking about how much she liked my thesis. What? It was like a celebrity moment. Well, maybe not a real celebrity moment, but it was cool for me.

I don't think about my thesis often. It was awesome, but it just does not interest me. But, I will admit that seeing that presentation and hearing people talk about my thesis excited me. It was like running into an old friend that you are so excited to reunite with.

Enough procrastinating. I need to start using nap time more wisely! :)