As I read the syllabus for V499 back in August, I was filled with fear and doubt. The idea of writing an honors thesis was extremely overwhelming. I was fully convinced that this was going to be the hardest and most impossible task of my life. If these are the emotions that you are feeling, then I understand, but STOP RIGHT NOW! I have three tips that will help you navigate this difficult semester. Hopefully, my advice will ease your mind and lower your stress levels as you begin to write your honors thesis.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help…
The most helpful thing that I Iearned throughout this process is that you cannot be afraid to ask for help. There are people who want to help you succeed, but you must be willing to reach out to them when you are struggling. The most obvious person that can help you throughout this process is your thesis advisor. It will be beneficial to find an advisor before V499 begins and start communicating with them as soon as possible. You will build a strong relationship with your advisor through frequent communication. My thesis advisor and I had bi-weekly meetings where we discussed my progress and discussed the things that I was struggling with. The meetings were only 30 minutes each week, but they were a key to my overall success. If you have a specific question about the thesis process, then ask your advisor sooner rather than later. At times, I would wait to ask a question because I thought that it “stupid”. I am here to assure you, that your questions are not “stupid”, so don’t be afraid to ask them!
Additionally, when you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it can be extremely beneficial to talk with your peers. You might feel like you are behind in the process, but you will soon realize that your fellow classmates are right there with you. By talking to your peers, you will realize that you are not alone, and you will be reminded that you can do this. Lastly, talking to your V499 professor can be extremely helpful. If they can’t directly assist you, then they will put you in contact with someone with the resources to help you.
- Read, write, repeat…
At the start of this process, you will feel overwhelmed, and you might not know where to start, but you must get over that quickly because the semester will be gone in the blink of an eye. Start the process by reading. It’s that simple, as you start looking at the literature your wheels will start turning. Reading relevant literature will get you in to the research mindset. Once you find useful studies, start organizing them in folders that can be easily accessed in the future. I was NOT organized throughout the process, and I promise that you’ll thank yourself for staying organized.
The next step is to write. Again, it’s that simple, just write! Throughout the semester, I was always stuck on perfection, but you do not have to be perfect. During the drafting stages, no one is expecting you to be perfect. Put your fingers to the keyboard and start typing! If you hit a wall, then go back to the literature for inspiration. These are the steps you should follow throughout the thesis writing process, and if you come up with questions along the way, you know the people that you can go to for help.
- Don’t doubt yourself…
Lastly, don’t doubt yourself! If I got through this process, then you can get through this process. This semester, you will encounter peaks and valleys, but there are people along the way that will help you through the terrain. If you find yourself at the bottom of a valley, then take a deep breath and remind yourself that this is just one part of the journey. I know that you will make it to the final peak, and you will be so thankful that you did! Believe in yourself and try to enjoy the journey. Best of luck: you’ve got this!
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