There are few academic pursuits more challenging than conducting research. For one, it often feels as if you are starting from less than scratch. But therein lies the most rewarding aspect of research. Completing the Honors Thesis program through the O’Neill School gave me a newfound sense of pride in my capabilities as an academic and as a person. The standards to which this process taught me to hold myself, along with the passion shown by my fellow students, were a daily inspiration.
For these same reasons, however, small mistakes and big mistakes alike can feel like the end of the world. I certainly had my fair share of slip-ups: from changing the topic of my research after months of work led to dead ends or loss of interest, to submitting final drafts only to realize grammatical mistakes afterward. Yet, looking back on the project as a whole, it’s clear that these were all necessary bumps on the road to the finish line (though flat tires will still drive you insane).
The following are the tips that I found most helpful or wish I had followed in retrospect:
If you feel like you’re drowning, take stock: There will be points during the process when you feel like there is too much work to do and not enough time to do it. There may even be points during the process when that feeling is correct. Don’t let this feeling distract you from the purpose of the project; you are learning, you are improving, (true, you should probably get back to work and stop putting it off), and you are a better student for each moment of doubt you overcome.
If you face a major (or minor) setback, that is progress too: You were never going to get it right on the first draft. Personally, my first and final drafts share almost nothing and quite honestly make two irreconcilably different claims. A setback is a setback, yes. And you will feel like you have wasted a lifetime of energy for nothing. But a setback is progress, too. If you face a setback that makes you want to give it all up, remember that setbacks are bound to happen, and overcoming them only means you are one step closer to reaching a completed project.
Feeling like garbage? Be honest with yourself, your peers, your mentors, and your instructors: In the course of my research and writing efforts, there were certainly times when I felt like I was running on empty. I would realize I hadn’t spent time with friends, hadn’t seen my family, hadn’t seen the sun or touched grass in weeks. Be honest with the people around you, they will see you, they will understand, and they will help — and if they don’t, good news! The list of opinions you should care about has finally gotten shorter. In my experience, the faculty and students at IU have been very understanding of exigent circumstances and the toll that a heavy work load can take. More often than not, flexibility is possible. That being said, it is crucial that you are honest with yourself and those around you. Your instructors and mentors can recognize the difference between you taking a well deserved break and you selling yourself short. Treat it like a professional environment and your environment will treat you like a professional.
This experience will challenge you in new ways and stretch academic muscles you didn’t know existed. It is a marathon, and you will not be able to sprint come the last quarter mile. Pace yourself, listen to yourself, trust yourself. Best of luck!
Peter Clark is a rising senior at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
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