Happy New Year, postgrads!

Happy New Year, postgrads! A big congratulations to all those who have recently graduated. There was a rush of submissions in late 2014, and lots of AUT postgrads ticked big achievements off their academic bucket lists. Well done!

For those of us who are still working, let’s take a moment to ring in 2015 with a rousing chorus of Auld Lang Syne… or perhaps a slightly augmented version thereof. Raise your virtual glasses, everyone – here’s to a great year of enriching research, mental stimulation, and new friends!

Auld Lang Syne

Should old acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot
and days of long ago?

CHORUS:

For days of long ago, my dear
for days of long ago,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for days of long ago.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
for days of long ago.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since days of long ago.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since days of long ago.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught
for days of long ago.

CHORUS

Postgrad’s Sigh

Should older data be forgot
and never shall be mined?
Should old transcriptions come to naught
and pace of reading slow?

CHORUS:

Oh I’ve a ways to go, my friends,
yes, I’ve a ways to go,
I’ll take a cup of coffee yet,
for I’ve a ways to go.

And supervisors psyche me up!
and tell me I’ll be fine!
But keep that coffee coming, yes,
for I’ve a ways to go.

CHORUS

I too have felt that I’m a dope
when theories misalign;
I’ve weary-wandered notes of foot,
Oh, I’ve a ways to go.

CHORUS

I too have dreamed that teasing dream
of graduation time;
But Chapter Three is still quite flawed…
Yes, I’ve a ways to go.

CHORUS

I’ll lend a hand, my postgrad friends!
And lend a hand of thine!
We’ll make it right in our next drafts,
and onward we shall go.

AMENDED CHORUS:

Oh, onward we shall go, my friends,
yes, onward we shall go,
Let’s wipe our furrowed brows of sweat
and show ’em what we know!