Knox College

Knox Farm volunteer

October 2022 • Galesburg, IL

What I liked

I had a really great time! Tina Hope was really helpful and super willing to answer any questions and there was a wide variety of volunteers where some people had been volunteering for a few years and others, like me were just doing it for the first time.

What I wish was different

Advice

I would say to dress in layers. Even i it's cold outside, it's hard work, and you'll probably get hot, so make sure you have layers, so you can cool off.

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Researcher

June - July 2022 • Galesburg, IL

What I liked

I loved the ability to use all of the resources Knox has given me! In particular the library and the special archives were particularly interesting and helpful!

What I wish was different

I wish I had an advisor who was a bit more involved as this was my first big research project!

Advice

One piece of advice is to trust your ability. I doubted myself a lot during the process, but I ended up writing something I really liked!

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Undergraduate Researcher

July - August 2021 • Galesburg, IL

What I liked

I got to work closely with a professor and my peers to develop some exciting insight into the field of media literacy

What I wish was different

I wish there had been more in-person and active components of the project

Advice

This was a great experience, but I'd definitely recommend finding an additional job/internship during the summer because there's not much else to do in Galesburg when classes aren't in session and this experience did not require a lot of time.

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Research Fellow

June - August 2021 • Galesburg, IL

What I liked

I loved the independence of the project. I was able to design my own based on my interests in environmental policy and the local Galesburg community.

What I wish was different

I wish I had had a bit more guidance when it came to what I needed to accomplish and how to go about certain aspect of the research, but that was also all part of the learning experience.

Advice

Trust yourself! ASSET is meant to challenge you, and you get out of it what you put in! It’s a wonderful opportunity, though, and you’re the expert!

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ASSET Research Fellow

June - August 2021 • Galesburg, IL

What I liked

I enjoyed the opportunity to live away from home during the summer. I felt so independent in the best way; I was able to structure my days, cook my own meals, and delegate my time how I wanted to. Also, this was my first independent research project, and this was a great experience to have as it ended up inspiring my Senior Honors Project.

What I wish was different

I wish that it had been longer! It was difficult to conceive of a research idea that was applicable to my interests and feasible to accomplish in just 8 weeks.

Advice

Even though it might be intimidating or scary, I would really recommend that everyone do something out of their comfort zone while in college! Living by myself for the summer and having this research position taught me so much, even outside the lab, and I wouldn't have had this experience if I didn't push myself even when I was nervous.

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Research

March 2020 • Galesburg, IL

What I liked

I liked being able to create my own schedule. I was able to come and work in the lab on my own time. It allowed me to keep up with other commitments.

What I wish was different

Advice

Set goals for yourself to complete by certain dates. It keeps you motivated.

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Researcher

June - August 2021 • Galesburg, IL

What I liked

I enjoyed getting experience as a lead researcher looking into a problem relevant to my field and area of interest. I was able to choose my research topic and got to experience the struggles and successes of coordinating and executing finding solutions to a research question.

What I wish was different

I wish I had more time over the summer to work further on my research, and I also wish I had been part of a research team so that I would have had more resources and support throughout this contained journey.

Advice

Time and expectation management are two factors to independent research that are difficult to manage your first time around. Work with a mentor to realistically plan your goals and your timeline to set yourself up for success in your project!

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