5: Hey, Thesis Mate! part 2

1 week later

7 days after the groupings had been finalized for the 20 psychology students, the long-awaited consultation day with Professor Monrey finally arrived. The classroom was alive with quiet chaos. The papers rustling, keyboards clicking, and laughter bouncing off the walls.

Some groups were huddled together, finalizing their thesis proposals with serious faces and highlighted notes spread across their desks. Others are chilling, having a chit-chat at the back, just like Drino’s group.

Drino leaned back in his chair, smiling. He is wearing a beige shirt with a denim jacket with brown collars, black pants, and beige rubber shoes. Terryl gelled his low-faded haircut, wearing his red knitted long sleeves and gray pants. He shared more about his jokes. Anthasia, with her slim body, shoulder-length brown hair, and sophisticated, casual look. She laughed continuously at Terryl’s jokes.

In another corner, a group was still cramming ideas. There were whispering arguments over which concept was more feasible as the clock ticked closer to the professor’s arrival.

The air carried that familiar mix of anticipation and panic. This is a normal day in the life of stressed yet determined college students.

“Good afternoon, class.” Professor Monrey arrived on time.

“Good afternoon, Sir.”

“Hello, Sir!”

“Sir, good day.”

Some students responded.

“How are your 3 thesis topic proposals? Is everyone done with it?”

“Not yet, Sir.” Terryl jested.

Anthasia frowned at him and poked his arm using her right elbow. “What are you talking about?” she whispered at Terryl to stop his jokes because it wasn’t true that they were not yet done with their assignment.

They finished their assignment. However, they were not too confident in it. They will ask Professor Monrey’s opinion first and redo it.

“Oh, come on, Terryl. Since your group is being naughty, let’s go with your group first.”

Anthasia groaned. Because of what Terryl did, they attracted their professor's attention to come first for the consultation. Drino shrugged off and proudly stood up.

“Let’s go, team,” he cheered them up.

The three of them went in front of the class and stood beside the teacher’s table, which is on the right side of the classroom.

It took their group 15 minutes to finish their group consultation.

“See? Our proposed topics weren’t so bad.” Drino beamed and seated on his designated armchair.

“Yeah, but we need to revise it and choose the one that we liked the most,” Anthasia grunted. She put her pen on the armchair’s table where she sits.

Terryl slouched. “Well, for me, I’d like to proceed with the third option because all of us are quite knowledgeable about it.” He starts waving his hand to explain his opinion. “It is also relevant in this generation, and I’ve come up with a handful of resolutions to it. Not sure if it will work, but it is worth a try. Besides, we can ask our relatives and their networks for the interview. What do you think?”

The two of them became silent for a few seconds.

“Hello? Am I talking to a shadow?” Terryl asked the two.

“I didn’t know you’re capable of talking sensical stuff, Terryl,” Drino replied with a straight face. He’s in awe.

Anthasia suppressed her laughter when she heard Drino’s remark. “Who knew Terryl had brains all along?” she burst laughing.

Drino could no longer hide and joined Anthasia laugh.

“Terryl’s group again. Turn down your voices, please.” The professor called them out again for being noisy while the class was still ongoing. “To those who’re done with the consultation, select one final thesis topic with your group, then meet with me here again for approval.”

The other remaining groups started their consultation, too.

“Laugh now, beg later, peasants. You forgot something about me, that’s why you need me for this thesis.” Terryl smirked.

“What is it?” Anthasia asked him.

“We are a family of doctors, remember?” he said proudly.

Terryl’s family is influential enough that they could use this advantage to interview a psychometrician or psychiatrist. This influence was also the main reason Terryl ended up in the psychology program in the first place. His parents had always wanted him to become a doctor, a family tradition.

“Interesting output. Although I was thinking of the first option…” Drino mumbled. “It is a great concept, too.”

“Now you’re of use to us. Great decision that I chose you over Savi.” Anthasia joked.

“What did you say? I heard that?” Savi interrupted.

“Savi!” Anthasia hugged Savi. “Of course, that wasn’t true. But yeah, we need Terryl this time. How is your group’s consultation going?”

“We must revise all of it, gosh. Can you help us? We’re desperate”

Savi’s group approached Drino’s group to ask for help in revising their proposed thesis topics, which had been rejected by their professor.

The six of them worked together.

It was Ashmille’s and Jeron’s turn for consultation. They approached their professor.

“Okay, for the last group. Ashmille and Jeron, how are your thesis topics? Since there are only two of you, you can consult with me even after our class dismisses.”

“Thank you, Sir. We have something to say to you, Sir. Actually, Jeron and I decided to do our thesis individually.” Ashmille held her notebook tightly.

“Really? Why?” He frowned in confusion.

“We listed some topics, and we had the same interests, but we will have a hard time working with each other because our schedules don’t really match, and there have been some miscommunications, too. Right, Jeron?”

Ashmille raised her concern to the professor. She observed a lot of potential problems after 7 days of working with Jeron. He suddenly disappeared for two hours last week, which is why they weren’t able to consult on that day. He replies late, which forces Ashmille to do 75% of the work because she doesn’t want to cram it. He lacks the initiative and motivation to do it. Their chosen final thesis topics are different.

“Ah, yes. Sir, it would be best to do it individually. I don’t want to cause Ashmille trouble.”

The professor sighed. “I understand. If this is a mutual decision, then there will be no problem. These concerns are pretty common with a group thesis. I’m glad that you brought this thing up while it’s still early.”

He stood up. “Excuse me, class, listen. If any of you prefer to do an individual thesis, just let me know. You are free to do so.”

No one replied or even raised their hands. So, it was just the two of them who would do it individually.

The professor sat again. “Who will consult with me first?”

“Me, Sir.”

“Okay. You may take your seat first, Jeron.”

Jeron went back to his chair. Ashmille explained her 3 thesis topics to the professor.

“I see. I can see where you’re coming from after looking at your topics. Have you decided which topic to select?”

“Yes, Sir. I might go with the first topic I did. What do you think about it, Sir?”

“Given your interests and resources, this is a well-defined topic. It is also quantifiable, possible to achieve, relevant, and timely. You can go for it.”

She smiled in relief. She took nearly 10 minutes to finish her consultation.

“Oh, before I forget,” the professor added. “Terryl.” He’s calling Drino’s group. “Terryl and his group?”

The chatter of Drino’s and Savi’s group paused when they heard their professor calling the three.

“Yes, Sir?” Terryl responded.

“Come here, you and your group.”

“We’re being scolded again, shh,” Anthasia shushed Terryl.

“Why me?” Terryl denied.

The three stood up and approached the professor nervously.