If you are reading this, odds are you’re in the Honors Program and have been tasked with writing this research paper. Congratulations! This is a huge step for you developmentally and professionally as an academic, and it also gives you a chance to contribute important research to an area that interests you most! This paper is probably longer and more intricate than any assignment you have ever had to do, along with the required presentation of your results at the end. Any part of this process can be overwhelming if you allow it to be. Right now, you may be feeling like there’s no way you can do this, that you’re underqualified, or you have no idea where or how to start. There were times throughout both courses when I thought there was no way I could do this and that I was doing something way above my abilities. If you are having these thoughts or doubts right now, STOP! Take a deep breath (or a few of them). Remind yourself of these things:
- You were invited into the Honors Program; you have already been deemed qualified to do something like this.
- You have a support system or will have a support system: your professor, thesis advisor, colleagues in your class, and anyone else in your life. If you need further help your professor or advisor can connect you with someone who can give you the help you need.
- If you quit now, you are only cheating yourself out of an amazing opportunity to develop and refine your researching and writing skills.
These thoughts of “I can’t…” or “What if…” are a self-preservation technique in your brain to prevent anticipated failure and are fruitless worries. If you struggle finding motivation to start or keep going, this is my advice to you:
- Break up the paper into sections you are comfortable with, whether it is an actual section of the paper like the literature review or methods section, or if it is breaking it down even further such as one paragraph, or even one sentence at a time. 1% is better than 0%.
- Find ways to stay interested in the topic you’ve chosen. At times this paper can become the bane of your existence; find a way to keep yourself excited to work on it.
- Find someone to hold you accountable, check in on your progress, and give you detailed deadlines. Whether it’s a friend, your professor, your advisor, or even your parents. These people can give you positive or negative reinforcement to motivate you.
- Advocate for yourself and what you need to be successful. No one else knows what will help you, except you! You may feel as if you are annoying your advisor or whoever is helping you, but often life just gets busy, and people forget so never be afraid to reach out!
The feeling of accomplishing something you thought you couldn’t is one of the most rewarding feelings you’ll ever experience! If nothing else resonates, remember, you got this!
Joelle Cox wrote her thesis in the fall of 2022.
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