As a first-generation college student, I'm slowly but surely becoming more acquainted with the world of academia, a world that once seemed intangibly out of reach and complicated. Though I am still limited in what I currently know, I do have a few impressions based on my experience conducting research in a few sociology courses. Research is a process of learning and discovery that requires not only time and effort, but also persistence, teamwork, and an open mind.

To research is to know what has and has not been done already and to furthermore question what has and has not been done already. Before attempting to find some answer, a researcher must begin with a focused question. This is the first step in experimental design and therefore seems obvious, yet its criticality cannot be understated. Too often in my research I have fallen down research rabbit holes, losing focus of my initial question and consequently confusing myself with too much dialogue. Knowing the objective of the investigation, then, allows the researcher to know whether they are unnecessarily repeating someone else's work. After all, the point of research is to discover something new, and often this can be done by building upon knowledge that already exists.

The process of researching will generally vary from field to field and from individual to individual. In my personal experience with critical race theory and education, research involves thorough theoretical analysis, beginning with a question, followed by a potential thesis, critical readings of existing literature, and constant revisions of the preliminary thesis based on questioning informed by existing research. No matter what, it is absolutely necessary to consider the limitations of one's research and how they may affect one's discoveries. For me, however, the most challenging part of the research process is maintaining a persistent, open mind. Often I must resist the urge to find an answer to the research question too early on and never allow it to change. This urge is especially problematic because it blocks the revision process; I find myself 'fitting' data to an answer that I suppose to be correct, rather than formulating an answer based on the evidence I have found through the research process. I find myself questioning my own credibility and losing faith in the purpose of my own research, and it has therefore historically taken me a greater investment in open-mindedness and persistence to complete my research.

Looking ahead to the REU site, I personally imagine that creativity and teamwork will play a greater role in my research process. I anticipate that the process will still begin with a focused and informed question, followed by an idea of a solution, review of and comparison with existing solutions, and finally an actual implementation of the solution. As always, the research process should end with a consideration of possible limitations and their interferences with the final results. This process, in computer science, however, seems to require greater responsibility on the part of the researcher to fabricate something new and functional (i.e. a useful program or technology), therefore requiring a greater degree of creativity. Furthermore, in a team of researchers, it will be particularly important that the team members welcome criticism and seek one another's input throughout the research process. Personally, creativity and teamwork are two qualities that I have found to be lacking in my past research projects, so I am looking forward to the change in my process.

I wouldn't be telling the full story if I said I wasn't a little anxious about the discovery component of the research process. I have always been eager to learn and realize that I currently have a lot of learning to do, but realizing how much knowledge I have yet to learn makes me question my ability to contribute to the creation of knowledge. But at the same time, the opportunity to learn and work towards the creation of knowledge in such a supportive environment is rare, and I am excited to work hard to make the most of this summer experience.