 My only problem with the thesis boot camp was the fact that I didn't do it earlier in my candidature because I think I could probably have taken about six months off my time for completion. My name is almost Dr. Kelly Strepec and I participated in the thesis boot camp early 2014. And I can honestly say that it was probably the best workshop that I participated in during my four years as a PhD student. Actually, I'll go as far to say that it was the best opportunity that I had as a PhD student here at the ANU. I heard about the thesis boot camp through an email that was sent around to all the students. And so I had a little look and I saw what had happened at other universities. And to be honest, I didn't actually believe what the testimonials were saying because for me the thought of writing more than 500 words a day was just the realm of impossibility. All of a sudden I found myself in this environment where our sole purpose was to write. I didn't actually have to think about anything. I didn't have to feed myself. Every time we got up for a break there would be some sustenance, some nutrition, loads of coffee, loads of people to talk to, to talk about your progress, to talk about your fears, your anxieties. And then we'd be back to writing again. So there was this energy there. During the write-up of your thesis, you're at that point where you're not only writing your thesis but you're also writing job applications. And for me the whole process was made so much faster. And the tools that they gave me, they've actually allowed me to be a lot more creative with my writing as well. Now that I don't sit on things and I don't stew on things, I find that those moments of brilliance that come along, well not quite brilliance, but those moments of inspiration that come along, they now flow out onto the paper. And for me this is something that has never happened before. Over that weekend I produced just over 10,000 words. I finished an entire chapter. A chapter that I'd been sitting on for months and didn't think that I was ever going to be able to complete. And I wrote the whole thing. It was the first draft, it wasn't the final draft, but the stress levels for me, it just made finishing up so much more easy. I also, straight after that, I wrote three job applications, wrote the selection criteria that people told me would take weeks, took me days, and I actually got offered all three jobs as well. I can wholeheartedly recommend the thesis bootcamp to everyone, everyone who is trying to complete a thesis, anyone who actually needs to do any form of writing in their work life. For me as a scientist, it's actually something that you're not really taught, it's just expected that you'll be able to not only do your science, but be able to communicate your results. And for me I realised that writing and writing quickly is a real art form, and it's something that you can take into all different walks of life. So if there is one program that you get to be involved in while you're at the ANU, then I would highly recommend it be the thesis bootcamp.