I joined the Honors Undergraduate Thesis Program Fall of 2021. Over the course of two semesters, I was tasked with researching, writing, and defending an original thesis proposal with the assistance of a committee.

I was originally hesitant to join the program. I had never engaged in research at this level before and was unsure how stressful I wanted my senior year to be. I felt like I had a good set of experiences in my undergraduate career and did not need to add anything else to it. However, I decided to join because I wanted to challenge myself. I also realized I wanted to go to graduate school and that engaging in undergraduate research would be a great asset in my applications. Even though the experience has not been easy, I am grateful for having joined the program. I have developed a lot of skills during this time that will undoubtedly assist me in my future endeavors. The skills I would like to focus on are organization and time management.

While the program has a set of deadlines to meet, it was up to me and my thesis chair to figure out a schedule on how to execute the project. I decided we would meet every two weeks as needed. Starting last semester, I began using calendar reminders for major deadlines more often. I also use sticky notes around my house for smaller tasks to complete throughout each week. Because of this, I work on small chunks of the project over time rather than cramming everything in at the last minute. This allows me more time to check for mistakes and take corrective action. I also have a set of folders with various aspects of the program making it easy to find information when I need it.

I have been able to utilize these skills in other areas as well. Fall of 2021, I organized folders for Knights of Distinction, a program meant to help students make the connection between what they learn in the classroom and their futures pursuits. I filled each folder with evidence of my experiences and artifacts for my e-portfolio. This semester I was able to seamlessly fill in the inventory with my evidence and finish most of my portfolio before the end of February. I also have a list of audio recordings for my required reflections and a schedule of when to transcribe and submit them before the deadline in March.

I chose to reflect on these skills because they are marketable in a variety of circumstances. In my future career as an academic advisor, it is extremely important that I can organize information on my students accurately and be available to deal with each student accordingly. In graduate school, it is important that I can create a plan for when/how to complete my assignments in a timely manner. Organization and time management are a set of skills that I can use in a variety of settings that will benefit me now and in the future.