EE Reflections

Reflection #1: 2/5/2024

My extended essay (EE) process has been slow and hard to get started, but the process of understanding my topic wasn’t overly difficult. Through the annotated bibliography I learned how to use JSTOR and how to find credible sources. During this stage, something I struggled with was managing my time well. I realized the importance of reading and understanding information thoroughly to create strong connections to my research question. The research question that my advisor and I came up investigated the difference between data collected using MolView ⎯ a web-base molecular modding tool ⎯ and computation data for organic compounds. Given that molecular modeling and organic chemistry are integral to drug design, I find the exploration of this topic intriguing. Additionally, I learned that putting my work off is detrimental to success. And although I struggled with this initially, this process taught me the skills of conducting research. 

Reflection #2 (Interim): 10/4/2024

Since my last reflection, allocating the time to write the EE has been difficult. Despite my best efforts, I would often get distracted with other classes or tasks. However, the time we were allotted in class allowed me to find additional sources. While writing the initial draft of my introduction and methodology, I came to the realization that I hadn’t been consistently citing my sources, which then required me to revisit them. In my opinion, I think my writing embodies an active voice with clear and structured analysis. And moving forward I think I would need to focus on clearly relating my analysis to my research question to ensure that my research on the accuracy of MolView compared to computational databases is supported in a good manner. Although my research isn’t as deep as I would like it to be, due to the small amount of molecules analyzed, I would like to address this in the limitations section of my paper. This process has taught me that perseverance is paramount, and despite setbacks, I was able to gain a better understanding of molecular modeling tools and their applications.

Reflection #3 (Viva você): 2/13/2025

When reflecting and looking back on this past year, I realized the importance of time management, self-sufficiency, and support-seeking. My progress was severely impeded by procrastination and a reluctance to seek help from my advisor. If I could redo it, I would be more proactive and seek more help to streamline and clarify the process. Additionally, if I viewed the project from a different perspective, by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable sections, the writing as a whole would not have been as daunting. But, despite facing these challenges, I did successfully generate my final EE. If I could emphasize things I’ve learned in this research process, I would highlight the importance of persistence, accountability, effective planning, and communication. All of which are essential for success in future academics. This experience helped me balance independence and collaboration, which is also needed in other aspects of work.