Suddenly, everything is over. A year of intensive study, the final examination, followed by celebrations, leafing through a year's worth of papers, cramming my life into eight boxes, and then going home to Germany for a month of relaxation before I begin my PhD.

It was a tough year, not just for me, but also for my family and, most of all, my girlfriend who lives in Germany. She and I tried to simulate a normal life as we managed to see each other at least every second weekend. Between these visits were many long-distance phone calls and long working hours on both sides. Nevertheless, our relationship remains intact and strong, and I'm very grateful for her support. These holidays are my girlfriend's and family's as much as they are mine.

Being at home has made me realize how important it is for graduate students to maintain a personal life outside the laboratory and to take time off to be with loved ones. We cannot forget that the people who love us guarantee us a home when we return from the lab, be it for a weekend or when our degree work is finally finished. And they are as affected by our career decisions as we are ourselves. Time is precious, and spending it with my family has been just as valuable to me as spending it at the lab bench.