Participating in my research project greatly enhanced my professional development skills. I uncovered my strengths in critical analysis and writing while recognizing that time management is an area where I can improve. Actively seeking feedback from peers and professors refined my abilities and guided my learning journey. I set clear goals for presenting and showcasing my work with my mentor, Dr. Klosowska. She encouraged me to apply for the URF and LAURE, where this project was given third place. The project motivated me to take advantage of academic resources on campus, especially our library system, professors, and the Interfaith Center. Networking with faculty and fellow researchers broadened my professional connections. This experience ignited my curiosity and reinforced my commitment to ongoing personal and career growth.
I developed essential intercultural and equity-focused skills by engaging with Islamic scholars and Muslim community members. These conversations provided valuable insights that expanded my understanding beyond academic texts, enabling me to challenge biases and approach the topic with cultural sensitivity. I actively sought diverse perspectives to ensure my analysis was respectful, inclusive, and reflective of lived experiences. Through this process, I became more aware of the systems that marginalize communities and learned to question dominant narratives. This experience deepened my commitment to anti-oppressive practices and cross-cultural engagement in both my research and daily life.
Through this project, I built collaborative relationships with my mentor, librarians, professors, and community members. I was encouraged by my mentor to branch out and ask other experts for their feedback. I sought out new perspectives to strengthen my work and deepen my personal understanding of the topic. In these meetings, I actively listened, asked thoughtful questions, and remained open to feedback. Each person offered unique comments, and I altered my approach to use their feedback constructively. Overall, this experience taught me the value of networking and working collaboratively with others, and it allowed me to build respectful, professional relationships with my peers and mentors.