Mr. Kafkas, Ph.D. - Pending some revisions

I still have some work ahead of me, but pending those revisions I passed my dissertation defense this morning. I am happy to be almost finished and proud of the work I accomplished. I am thankful to many people who helped me get here.

Thank you to my dissertation advisor, Jennifer Schmidt, who met with me countless times over the last few years. Between the classes I took with her, to the times we'd meet at Panera, or even her daughters' gymnastics studio, she has made a profound impact on me as a scholar and a person. I wouldn't be where I am without her guidance and assistance. Only a special person would continue to mentor and advise a student after she had left the NIU and taken a job at Michigan State. Jen is that special person and her support has meant so much to me.

I also want to thank Lee Shumow, who, along with Professor Schmidt, allowed me to participate in the I-MUScLE study that they conducted. Since my first class with her in the Fall of 2008, Lee has always taken an interest in me. Both Lee and Jen took it upon themselves to make sure I'd finish this degree, despite the challenges my cancer presented. They never forced me to do anything I didn't want to do, but they were always willing to help me in any way that I needed.

I'd also like to thank the other members of my committee, Amanda Durik, Stephen Tonks and Lindsay Harris. I appreciated them giving up their time to read my dissertation and their constructive feedback, both during my proposal defense and today. 

Thank you also to all of my friends and family who have encouraged me over the years to continue to strive for this goal. I appreciated all the positive encouragements, and the threats of bodily harm, if I quit (i.e. Becky Scent.) I didn't always believe this day would come, but God used your encouragement to keep me going. 

In this process, I thought back to the roots of what led me here. I've had a love of learning from a very young age. My parents both encouraged me to follow my interests. I also recognized more clearly this year the effect my maternal grandmother, Janet Spaulding, had on me as a student, a teacher and a scholar. She was an educator at heart, and her creative spirit and love of learning are continued in myself and her many children and grandchildren who have pursued teaching and higher education. She went to be with the Lord recently, but I know that her effect on me lives on and this degree is just one part of it.

Finally, I thank the Lord for his strength in my weakness. He sustained me through the last 10 years of pursing this degree and the eight and a half years of pursuing it alongside cancer. Many of those years, I spent living in rebellion, pursuing my own desires and goals, but He was with me through it all. Two years ago, He led me back to Him and back to the body of believers. He didn't give up on me, and He has given me the strength to complete a dissertation in the two most difficult years of my life, both physically and professionally. Through it all, I've learned to cherish the hard times and trials of my life, because through it He is refining me and strengthening my faith. 

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)

Thank you all for standing with me and encouraging me. I have really appreciated your words of encouragement, prayers and even your threats! 

Mr. Kafkas, Ph.D.

PS: I think I'm going to go by this name, instead of Dr. Kafkas. First, I'm not a medical doctor, so Dr. Kafkas doesn't exactly sound right. Plus, Mr. Kafkas, Ph.D. sounds more pretentious, so it's perfect!