Now that a few weeks have passed since the start of the semester, there鈥檚 no denying it: it鈥檚 time to get to work. For students interested in learning about research and creative engagement, the discovery process can feel daunting. For students engaging in independent research and creative projects, those deadlines that once loomed far in the distance are suddenly a bit too close for comfort.
Rather than feeling stressed by the problem-solving, discovery and exploration that comes with research projects, embrace it! Part of the research experience is learning to navigate the various challenges, slip-ups and unexpected roadblocks that come your way. You鈥檒l be that more prepared to handle whatever post-grad life throws at you after having executed your own project start to finish. And campus offices like are here to support you.
But of course, that thought doesn鈥檛 do much for you now while you鈥檙e in the middle of trying to figure out a thousand things at once. Hopefully, these do鈥檚 and don鈥檛s will help with whatever stage of your project you鈥檙e in.
DO: Draw on the various talents and interests you have outside of your field of study.
Independent projects are your chance to think outside the box and break away from the day-to-day of being a student in your major. Are you an engineering student with a passion for circus activities, or an English student with a knack for yodeling? Give your brain a break from doing the same types of academic exercises and make your project into something you鈥檒l WANT to work on by indulging that side of yourself that鈥檚 itching to explore a different passion.
顿翱狈鈥橳: Try to combine every piece of knowledge you鈥檝e ever picked up into one project.
As liberating as it can be to create your own guidelines, don鈥檛 take on more than you can handle. At the end of the day, you have to be able to wrap your head around your work to help the project realize its potential. Make life easier for yourself, and the people that are part of your project鈥檚 intended audience, by doing your best to keep it simple.
DO: Take advantage of the various resources on and around campus.
Did you know there are at SU that can point you in the right direction for information and materials in virtually any field of study? They鈥檙e here to help you, and so are your advisers, department heads and other faculty in your field. They鈥檝e been in your shoes before, so picking their brains if you鈥檙e stuck could really give you some clarity.
顿翱狈鈥橳: Expect any of these people to do your project for you.
In other words, don鈥檛 send an email to an advisor or subject librarian with your entire research question or creative goal and hope that all the answers you need will magically appear in your inbox. Have a plan ready before you ask for help. What are you seeking from this person or source? Why? Where will it tie into the other information you have or are hoping to have? Be able to provide at least preliminary answers to these questions 鈥 you鈥檒l seem more prepared, even if you鈥檙e not entirely sure yourself.
DO: Hold yourself accountable.
With an independent project, it鈥檚 way too easy to fall behind on a deadline you gave yourself and think, 鈥淥h, that鈥檚 okay, I鈥檒l just get to it later since this isn鈥檛 for a class.鈥 Treat the project like it鈥檚 its own class, and remind yourself that those deadlines weren鈥檛 random when you set them.
顿翱狈鈥橳: Forget to give yourself a brain break.
It鈥檚 just as important to step back from your project sometimes as it is to keep plugging away at it. Looking at the project with fresh eyes in a few hours, or even a few days, might help you catch something you hadn鈥檛 noticed before, or come up with a new approach. So yes, reading a good book for a couple hours may actually help you in the long run.
Want to know more about research and what it all means? Do you have questions or concerns about your project that you still need answers to? Drop by on the second floor of Bird Library, and we鈥檇 be happy to help.
Written by Colleen Ferguson 鈥19, S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, The SOURCE Student Research Mentor