I imagined myself in this position, yet in that moment, I was filled with a combination of nervousness and excitement. There are many firsts in life, and I was about to experience a new one: my first encounter with research. I pushed through the stressful process of finding a mentor, finding a project I would enjoy, and now the journey begins. I took a deep breath before I entered the zoom. To what may seem like a simple moment to most, was a moment of utter importance for me. This summer experience with research could potentially change how I view my future. With those thoughts in my mind, I anxiously joined the zoom call, met my mentors for the summer, and began my journey into research.
When the first meeting ended, I was still unsure of what to expect for the summer. However, my mentors’ kindness placed my nerves at ease, and learning about the project only reinforced my excitement. Furthermore, I felt that I had selected the right project for me.
The beginning of the first two weeks started relatively slow. We were introduced to the protocol and other significant facets of the study, spending our meetings learning and clarifying any confusion. However, slowly more responsibility was placed on us. Over time, I found myself spending hours reading articles and editing educational content for the study database. They were not the most exciting activities, but I was still interested in the work. As things start to develop and I have more responsibilities to uphold, I develop a sense of fulfillment. I genuinely feel like I am doing something valuable.