The Thesis Widow

A thesis widow can come in many forms.

She could be an art major, taking sculpture and creative writing classes as an undergraduate at the same university where her husband is slaving through his plasma physics PhD. She has no degree in mind, necessarily, just living the free spirit life that goes along with the free spirit town where they live. She followed her husband to this town.

She could be a budding radio broadcaster from Toronto, who, due to the brutal unwillingness of international governments to properly share and transfer members of their workforces, cannot get a work visa to land a job in the field she loves. Instead she takes a job as a nanny for two beautiful little girls and learns more about herself than she ever thought she would. She followed her husband to this town.

She could be a PhD student herself, remotely finishing her degree in environmental engineering. She finishes her PhD years ahead of her husband. She will be the first doctor in this town! But this town doesn't have much to offer for a brilliant environmental engineering PhD, and she settles for a job at the local utility company, where her resources are appreciated but her wings are clipped. She followed her husband to this town.

She could be a bright and motivated law student, set to start her own firm and save the world. But starting her own firm in this town is difficult, and her husband is primed to up and move when he is done with his degree. So instead of working towards her dream, she takes a position at a non-profit firm and holds in her reigns until she can put down roots for her law firm. She followed her husband to this town.

She could be a teacher, working towards her master's degree in education. But this school isn't paying her tuition, and she works nights and early mornings at a local hotel restaurant to pay for her degree. Then her husband's advisor moves to another university, and she is forced to finish her degree in a rush and go as the wind blows. She followed her husband to this town, and followed him to the next.

She could have her degree in business, her mind in investments, but she moves from on unsatisfying job to the next - saleswoman at Victoria's Secret, teacher for a craft company, advocate for uninsured children. She is a City Girl at heart and can't quite find the right place here. She followed her husband to this town.