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MY STRUGGLE

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^{“I was supposed to already submit my final bachelor thesis last year in June, but I just struggled so much and missed every single deadline. I have 100.000 versions of everything that I write on my laptop and in notes, and I simply didn’t know how to put it together, how to structure it what I have in my head. You (Tikvah) helped me create a rhythmn of working on every aspect consistently and in a smart way, and now I finally have my end product which I am submitting end August this year. It’s my very final moment to avoid paying even more fees to university and I feel so reliefed and happy we made it.”}
Bachelor student (f) Middle East Studies, Arab culture and literature, University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands).

Photo (copyright with permission artist): ‘Breaking waves’, an art installation by Ana Oosting - scientist turned artist. This fold of paper took her many attempts, discover them in this Thesis Portal. You can learn more about the artist and her work in the cross-over with science on her own website, Instagram or via TU/Delft. Or watch this brief documentary on YouTube.

FIND YOUR ADVISOR/MENTOR
IN A QUICK CALL

Let’s touch base:
- How are you progressing towards your end product, honestly?
- What are you struggling with?
- What do you need to move forward?

We are always looking for ways to personalise an advisory programme for you.

Do you recognise any of these struggles some of our past students had ? Have a look at the various testimonials across our thesis pages to discover how we were able to help them.

My struggle is that:
- I simply want to enjoy this thesis season in my life instead of suffering mentally. I’m looking for an organic way to go about it, that is highly effective and leads me to the end product on time.

- The sheer amount of feedback I have received so far, from a variety of people, both in person, in calls, and in scattered notes is completely overwhelming and paralyses me. I don’t have a clue how to even start and move forward from here anymore.

- My contact moments with my supervisor at the institute are very scarce; the relationship is suboptimal (to say the least). I get the feeling s/he is consciously boycotting me...

- My fear of failure paralyses me.

- I prefer doing things, and explaining them verbally, not writing them up. I’m dyslectic.

- I’m not able to express my emotions or communicate the way I see others manage, and this affects the relationship with my supervisor.

- I don’t manage to plan effectively, I need small assignments because I cannot oversee the whole task. I need someone to come alongside me and structure my work.

- I am very ambitious professionally, and want to make the most out of this thesis period to simultaneously enhance my professional skills and capabilities.

- I really have no idea what I’m supposed to do for my end product (be it the academic thesis or the thesis coupled with the so-called ‘beroepsproduct’). I received so many guidelines, handbooks, rubrics, and verbal and written feedback from my institute and supervisor that I’m really lost.

- My thesis was rejected the first time, and I’m in a state of absolute panic. I cannot find a way to calm down and see the wood for the trees or even know where to begin, and every day the clock is ticking. I need help as soon as possible, this week even.

- My neurodiversity - I feel like I have a ‘different brain’ and I feel overlooked and disempowered (i.e. ADHD, autism, highly giftedness etc).
Important note: we don’t stigmatise, or make you self-stigmatise - we will always ask you to voice what a certain label means for your daily life.

- I am a first-generation student. No one in my family studied at university before me. I lack examples of how to do this. I’m on a tight budget and/or depend on scholarships with a fixed end date.
I am very ambitious and the actual grade of the thesis is an entry requirement for my next career step - the Master's degree or a move to another field of study. Whatever it takes.

Whatever your struggle with your thesis is, we can help.

Prefer to have direct contact for your questions?
Feel free to reach out to
tikvah@studioblended.com +31 6 42 47 29 69

TESTIMONIALS

^{“Tikvah helped
me tremendously with writing up my thesis. I lacked planning, and structure and
without her, I am sure I would have still not finished it. The supervision
started with a brief training in writing skills, and was followed up with
weekly appointments to hand in plannings, chapters and processed feedback. This
systematic approach worked excellent for me, and Tikvah’s comments on the content
and form helped me to write up a well-written thesis. She was also flexible in
the planning, gave feedback swiftly, and encouraged me. I was already wrestling
with my thesis for a full year, and with Tikvah’s supervision I re-wrote my thesis in just a month and a half. When I submitted I was still so insecure, and even if Tikvah started telling me - “you created a real gem” - I texted her upon submittion: “I think I failed this”. And then came the long awaited news: a 8,5 grade as a result.”}
Bachelor student (f) Middle East Studies, Arab culture and literature, University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands).

^{“I was recovering from a brain tumor, and - already struggling for a year - realised I was unable to structure my work and had no idea how I could ever graduate continuing in this way alone, and so I reached out for help. Tikvah strenghtened me to pick the thesis back up, in a moment that I was really down and out about it. We had to start with writing just a few lines a day, that was my tempo. I have come to trust Tikvah completely, and the approach she takes really resonates with me. I was so relieved to visualise all the knowledge in my head, it really calmed me. I am learning so many new skills in writing and communicating for the reader, to stop being so overly academic. The way Tikvah trained me with writing techniques is the invention of the century to me - it offers me structure, without being a straightjacket. I write with souplesse now and start seeing I’m actually not that bad a writer! I use it now everywhere, for my emails, for job applications - and I found a job! I truly enjoyed listening to the additional podcasts you sent. One, on the experience of a PhD candidate in procrastrination and writing - I could really identify with that. And the other, on slow productivity. I also really like the image of the garden - I love going into the garden, and now I am learning how to likewise do a little bit, every day, consistently. Now, I graduated too and can finally start a new page in my life.”}
Master thesis student (f) memory studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands

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