Hello! I am Anisha Chopra, a rising sophomore double majoring in Psychology and Women and Gender Studies. This will be my first summer in Ann Arbor and I can’t wait to explore the city without a packed campus! I have never participated in research before so while I am very excited and curious about this new experience, I am also a bit nervous about what to expect. My research project is focused on assessing education quality K-12. I picked this project because of my interest in education systems and policies and how they affect marginalized groups of people. Through my work with Special Olympics, I have seen how inclusive education programming can make students feel safer in their school environment, allowing them to develop their social and cognitive abilities. I hope to learn more about different research techniques, the factors that contribute to quality education, and possibly identify ways our education systems can be improved.
I think a challenge I may face is doubting what my exact tasks are within the project and what my work should look like. I will need to trust myself throughout this whole project and rely on my communication skills to ensure I am doing what is being asked of me. I am looking forward to working with another research assistant throughout this project. Being able to bounce ideas and questions off of someone in the same boat as me will be helpful. This will also be a great opportunity for collaborating with a fellow student who might have a different skill set than me.