Here you are, probably in your final semesters at IU, finishing up the last of your course work and honors requirements. Now, to complete your thesis. This is the point in your college career when “senioritis” is in full swing, motivation is at an all-time low, and thinking of finishing a thesis may seem like the most daunting task. I’m here to tell you, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
You are among several other honors student who are in the same boat as you, all writing a thesis right now. You are not the only student stressed about making deadlines, confused on how write a data and methods section, or spending late nights stressed wondering “Am I going to get this done?” “Is this going to keep me from graduating?” or “Is this the end of the world?”.
Well, this is not the end of the world, and you are going to get this done, and you will learn how to write that data and methods section. You are surrounded by a group of your peers also panicking about all the same things you are (even if they don’t seem like it, I promise they all are).
This is when you have to realize that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Talk to your peers, reach out, spend time venting about the difficulties you are having, the writer’s block you are going through or even the problems that may come up with your advisors. Believe it or not, many of your peers are experiencing the same problems. The best part about being a new track honors student is that you spend three hours a week with other students that you can talk to. Use this time to your advantage, whether that be writing in small groups, or beginning each class by venting about the struggles you are facing.
Your support system doesn’t stop there. Each one of you gets to handpick the professor that will guide you through this process; don’t be afraid to reach out. Your advisors signed up to help, so ask for help. While this may be intimidating, your advisor willingly agreed to help you write this thesis. They don’t know the problems you may be experiencing unless you communicate, so speak up and keep them updated. A very helpful way to stay consistent with this is setting up weekly or biweekly meetings from the beginning. If things get busy along the way and your meetings get cancelled that’s okay, but at least have a set time from the beginning.
Now, as unlikely as it may seem, you still have more people in your corner. The beauty of being in an Honors Thesis course is that you have a second a second built in advisor, your Honors Thesis professor. They are there to coach you through the writing of, what is for many of you, your first thesis. While they may not be experts in your topic, your professor has an extensive background in thesis writing. And if they can’t help you they have an array of contacts who may be able to. Some of these contacts include PhD students who have been in your shoes and may be less intimidating to talk to than a professor or your advisors.
All of this being said, YOU ARE NOT ALONE in this process, use the people around you and you will get through this.
Sydnie Hill is a Senior at Indiana University studying Healthcare Management and Policy with a Minor in Public Health.
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