Since my freshman year at Indiana University, I anticipated being part of the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs’ Honors Program. Once accepted, I was thrilled that I would be able to take on a thesis and start exploring a new topic. However, what I didn’t expect was how daunting the task of writing… Read more »
Advice
Key to Thesis Stress: Be Succinct and Clear
The thesis was not stressful because of the amount that I had to do but due to the amount of words and data I had. If you are a person who usually is over the word-count on papers, you probably will be for this thesis too. I thought there was no way I would have… Read more »
Writing a Thesis When You’re Overwhelmed
Writing a thesis is not what I expected. I thought it would feel exciting, like doing something meaningful. And sometimes it did. But most of the time, it just felt really heavy and it honestly made me really anxious. Even the thought of starting to write it and plan it out stressed me out because… Read more »
Be Confident in Yourself, Your Writing, and Your Research!
Without a doubt, your time with the O’Neill Honors Program will feel like a roller coaster. At times you will feel discouraged, empowered, inspired, and humbled. Sometimes, you will want to quit because there are other things you’d rather spend your time doing. Many of these negative feelings will come during high-stress times, such as… Read more »
Writing Thesis: Let your curiosity lead the way!
Congratulations on taking the steps to complete this honors thesis! I recently completed this journey, so I’d like to impart some key takeaways that helped me make the absolute most of it. I hope they’re helpful to you as well. Above all, let your curiosity lead the way. You will be working with your subject… Read more »
You Can Do Hard Things! Write a Thesis!
For students in the honors program preparing to write their thesis, brace yourself for the work. This was the most time-consuming yet most rewarding project I have worked on in my undergraduate career. Stick with it even when it feels like you are lacking motivation and momentum, the work pays off. Here are a few… Read more »
Thesis Season: Train Smart, Finish Strong
Growing up, I always loved sports. Whether it was soccer, volleyball, or tennis, I always wanted to be out playing on the field. But what I loved most about sports was the routine, structure, and discipline it took to push through when things got hard. Now, after completing my thesis, I see how these traits… Read more »
Reaching the Other Side of the Mountain: A Guide to Thesis Success
As you’re reading this, you’re likely imagining the metaphorical mountain of work that stands before you: a daunting, unclear journey ahead. Yet, the journey to the other side of this mountain will soon be one in which you will gain valuable experience in research, writing, organization, time management, and so much more, all of… Read more »
It Will Be Tough, But You’ve Got This!
Writing a thesis is stressful, and many of the horror stories you’ve heard are likely true. However, I can say from experience that the effort was worth it for me. There are very few pieces of work from your time at IU that you’ll be able to talk about years from now, but your thesis… Read more »
You CAN Write Your Thesis!
Dear Future Members of the O’Neill Honors Society, I know you’re staring down a daunting task, and if you’re feeling unsure about where to begin, that’s completely normal. My first piece of advice? Get comfortable with uncertainty—it’s part of the journey. Throughout this process, there will be moments when you don’t quite know how to… Read more »