Master’s student documents ‘relationship’ with thesis in hilarious photo series

27 May 2016

For many students, the sheer time, effort, and commitment spent on producing a thesis could be equated to being in a relationship.

Morris Vanegas, 26, took that premise a step further and actually documented the progress of his ‘relationship’ with his thesis.

What started out as a joking response to soothe his concerned mother’s worries evolved into a humorous photo series, called “A love letter to my thesis”, featuring Vanegas and his thesis posing together in various situations.

In the photos, Vanegas – who completed a dual master’s degree in aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – can be seen grabbing drinks, lying on the grass in the park, and even exercising on the treadmill with his work-in-progress.

“She was always worried I wasn’t going to turn it in on time,” he told the Huffington Post. So to put her mind at ease, he told her, “I’m really, really busy with the thesis,” and sent her the photos.

According to Vanegas, he engaged the help of random strangers to take the pictures.

Besides being encased in a rather fetching red color, the thesis was about how data changes when variables are shifted, looking at how today’s technology can adjust how it interprets data in a consistent manner, despite changes in various factors.

Now that he has parted ways with his thesis, Vanegas said he plans to pursue a PhD in bioengineering at Northeastern University.

Here are a few of the photos and amusing captions he posted, telling the ‘love story’ between a student and his thesis:

To my lovely thesis, whom I had to turn in to MIT today, May 19, 2016.