Title: Navigating Post-Submission Anxiety: How Small Errors in Your Thesis Can Feel Overwhelming
Submitting your master’s thesis is a significant milestone, often accompanied by a mix of relief, pride, and anxiety. Recently, I completed my thesis and, just a few days later, I’ve become aware of some mistakes that are causing a lot of stress.
One issue I noticed involves formatting errors in the document. For example, in the table of contents, the numbering jumped from 1.3 directly to 1.3.2 instead of 1.3.1, despite the actual sections being correctly numbered within the document. It seems the Table of Contents didn’t update correctly before submission. Additionally, in the references section, I overlooked italicizing some titles and made a typo in another citation.
This has led me to wonder—are these small errors enough to jeopardize my graduation? My main content is nearly flawless, as I dedicated most of my effort to writing the core sections of my thesis. However, these formatting mistakes were added last-minute, rushed through just hours before the deadline. Now, I find myself overwhelmed with panic, especially since it’s too late to submit corrections now.
Living with ADHD makes focusing especially challenging during stressful times like this. I’ve poured so much time and effort into this project; the thought of not graduating next week feels devastating. At 25 years old, I’m eager to move forward with my life and career, and this uncertainty weighs heavily on me.
To anyone in a similar situation, remember: small mistakes happen, and often, they’re not as critical as they feel in the moment. Reach out to your advisors if possible, and try to keep perspective. Your hard work and dedication show through in your thesis—it’s just a matter of managing the final steps with patience and resilience.