July 13th Update

Hi all,

This is a final update from me over here in Ohio. It’s hard to imagine that next month is August, which I often see as an informal end to “summer.”

The last two weeks have been incredibly busy for me, but with the program winding down, I’ve been able to catch my breath a little. Starting today, I’ll be playing around with different Google Slides outlines and organizing what I’d like to present at symposium. The research I’m presenting on is still in a very preliminary phase of the study right now, as we’ve just finished the data collection for one part of the project. However, there are still plenty of discussion points to touch on, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the virtual presentations will go. I know a lot of my peers in WAGSFP are working on pretty timely and important research projects, so I’m excited to hear from them directly. It will also be a refreshing experience to listen in on presentations from students in the other UROP programs this summer. Time and time again, the academic opportunities at Michigan have far from disappointed me–UROP being one of them–and I’m grateful to be a part of such a robust undergraduate research hub on campus.

Looking back, I am still feeling incredibly thankful that I was able to have work this summer. Speaking to my own preferences, being able to keep busy is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Having a full-time work schedule day in and day out has definitely helped me “normalize” a routine for myself. The flexibility of remote work has been good at times and bad at others. But perhaps, this is what we needed most in ever-fluctuating circumstances.

I really do wish I was able to meet all of the student researchers, the gracious UROP directors, and my insightful mentors this year. Despite the wondrous technological advancements that allow us to interact via Zoom or Google Hangouts, these virtual interactions always fall short of reality. Where is “eye contact” on a screen? Looking into the camera, or at the face projected in front of me? How do I actively listen? Do you see me nodding, or do you need to toggle over to the next set of faces to observe my movements? Where is the warmth, empathy, laughter, and other almost-tangible emotion? Does my greeting upon “unmute mic” seem awkward, does my smile translate any vibrance, does my body language read as “closed” when you’re limited to my shoulders, neck, and head? I miss the energy of meeting with people, feeling their presence, and reading their expressions. I miss the lifted spirits from having lively interactions, watching others smile, and listening to carefree laughter. Only when these little things go missing do I pay close attention to them with those I am face-to-face with.

Thanks for reading!

Best wishes in future endeavors,

Jakin