Defended my PhD yesterday. Got the diploma. It still doesn’t feel real.

Preparing the presentation and the defense, even knowing you’re not going to fail, was still daunting and nerve-racking. It feels a bit unfair when you realize the world already rewards the loud ones, for whom such events are just another opportunity to shine. My proposal: let introverts use an AI voice-over. You should be able to just stand there and nod while a confident voice explains your thesis.

I decided not to ask my mom to watch online. It would have been 10:30pm her time. She should be deep asleep by then, and even if not, my presentation would surely put her there.