Retrospective Reflection
As I approach the end of my undergraduate journey, I can reflect on how my time in the Honors College has shaped me both academically and personally. Through the Honors program, I’ve gained skills in research, leadership, and communication, all of which have prepared me for the next step in my career as I pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. The experiences and coursework within the Honors College have given me a solid foundation in critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and public engagement, which will serve me well as I continue to explore mental health research and clinical practice.
Throughout my time in the Honors College, I have had the opportunity to engage deeply with psychology through various Honors contract projects, which were extensions of regular coursework but designed to challenge me to go above and beyond the typical class requirements. These projects gave me the chance to dive into topics of personal interest, especially related to mental health and research methods. For example, my Honors contract project for my Introduction to Art Therapy class. This Honors contract project gave me the opportunity to explore the connection between art therapy and mental health outcomes, allowing me to combine both primary and secondary research to examine how art therapy can positively impact mental health.
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One of the key skills I developed during my Honors coursework was the ability to conduct in-depth research. Through these Honors contract projects, I learned how to design studies, gather data, and analyze both qualitative and quantitative results. I also became more confident in presenting my findings. These projects taught me to critically assess research literature and integrate findings to build strong, evidence-based arguments, a skill that will be essential in graduate-level studies. They also helped me to refine my ability to engage with both academic and non-academic audiences, translating research into something meaningful and relevant to diverse groups.
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Another important aspect of my Honors education has been the opportunity to collaborate with professors and receive mentorship. My faculty mentors in the Honors program have provided invaluable guidance in developing my research skills and academic perspective. For instance, Dr. Kyle Minor, who has also guided my capstone project on schizophrenia, helped me learn how to approach clinical research with both scientific rigor and empathy. The feedback I received from mentors in the Honors College pushed me to continually refine my work, encouraging me to think critically about my research designs and to consider the broader impact of my findings.
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In addition to developing my technical research and communication skills, the Honors program emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary scholarship and cultural awareness. As a clinical psychology student, I have come to understand that mental health cannot be studied in isolation. It is influenced by a variety of factors, including cultural, social, and environmental contexts. Through the Honors College’s interdisciplinary approach, I was encouraged to think about psychology in a broader context, which has been essential for my understanding of how mental health issues manifest across different populations. This has directly impacted my work on external projects, such as Project Salud, where I explored how cultural factors influence mental health outcomes in Latinx adolescents and their families. The interdisciplinary thinking encouraged in my Honors coursework helped me see the connections between psychology and broader social issues, expanding my view of what clinical psychology research should address.
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Beyond my academic growth, my time in the Honors College also nurtured my personal growth and professional identity. As I worked through the Honors contract projects and presented my research at various conferences, I gained confidence in my ability to communicate and advocate for mental health issues. Presenting at events like IUURC (Indiana Undergraduate Research Conference) gave me the chance to engage with peers and faculty from different disciplines, expanding my perspective and honing my public speaking skills. These experiences helped me realize the importance of accessible communication in psychology, particularly when translating complex research findings into formats that are useful for both professionals and the general public.
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While my involvement in Project Salud and IUURC was outside the Honors College, they allowed me to apply the skills and knowledge I developed in my Honors courses to real-world settings. For example, my research in Project Salud focused on how interventions for Latinx adolescents could improve mental well-being and reduce the impact of racial discrimination. The analytical skills I honed in my Honors coursework were directly applicable to my work here, especially in analyzing qualitative data and understanding the cultural dynamics that influence mental health. This experience deepened my understanding of how cultural and social factors can affect mental health, which will inform my future research in clinical psychology.
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Looking back at my Honors College journey, I can see how these experiences have prepared me for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in my academic and professional career. The research, communication, and leadership skills I’ve developed will serve me well in graduate school as I continue to pursue my passion for understanding and treating severe mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder. My Honors projects, including my contract work and capstone project, have strengthened my foundation in research and provided me with the tools to approach mental health issues from a multifaceted and culturally aware perspective.
As I move forward, I am excited to build on the knowledge and skills I’ve gained in the Honors College. My experiences in both the Honors program and my extracurricular research have inspired me to advocate for more inclusive and accessible mental health care. I am confident that the rigorous training I received in the Honors College will continue to shape my future in clinical psychology, enabling me to make meaningful contributions to research and practice in the field.