Getting my first-class honours result.

To put this in context, an "honours year" is an extra add-on to our (Australian) three year bachelor degrees. It's about 50% coursework, and 50% one (approximately 10,000 word) thesis. If you get a first-class result (approximately >= 85%) then admission and full-scholarship to virtually any PhD program (in the same field of course) is practically guaranteed. However if you miss out, you may get admitted to a PhD program, but it's almost impossible to get a scholarship.

I had little effective supervision and basically felt my way in the dark for two and a half years (really dragging out that year-long degree!) in order to complete my research and write my thesis. As a student in their 30s this result would basically determine the next 5 years of my life, and if I failed to achieve I would've effectively wasted the 2 and a half years doing honours (It doesn't really earn you any more salary over here, people only do it to get into PhD programs, or if it's built into their degree).

The feeling I felt on the morning my results were released was indescribable. Everything welled up in some sort of giddy mix of relief, joy, confidence and happiness. The relief was so overpowering that I almost burst into tears! I've never felt anything like it before or since!