Four ACC Psychology majors were accepted to the Opportunities for Undergraduate Research in Human Development & Family Sciences (OUR HDFS) Fellowship Program at Texas State University.
During the 25-week program–– supported by the National Science Foundation–– participants will be paired with faculty and graduate student mentors, conduct research, and learn about graduate school and careers in HDFS.
All the students learned about this opportunity through their involvement in ACC’s Honors Program, which offers small, 15-student classes focused on research, discussion, and hands-on learning. Students engage in special projects, field trips, guest lectures, and close collaboration with faculty and motivated peers.
One of those students is Morgan Gaither. Learn more about her experience below.
The first semester I began taking honors classes, a newsletter was sent out with information about a research experience for undergraduates (REU) opportunity at Texas State. I had no idea what it was or if I would get accepted, but I applied because it was advertised to Psychology majors. This was likely the best decision I had made in my academic career at that point, because I was accepted into the program and thus began a journey that is helping me prepare for graduate school.
First, I was introduced to my new mentor at Texas State and other graduate students with whom I would work in close quarters. They have coached me through learning to speak up in a group in a professional setting and helped me get more comfortable with research and data analytics.
We meet every Friday to discuss our progress and future goals. I currently work on a team whose main objective is to collect and analyze data regarding burnout amongst certified child life specialists (in short, trained specialists who help kids get through difficult hospital stays).
We’re trying to ascertain information about what causes these professionals to change their environments or career paths. This information will help teams implement intervention strategies in the future to hopefully reduce these changes.
My mentor and I have also worked closely together to form an independent research project—I plan to analyze data on how isolation affects the psyche of youth between ages 11 and 14. I am in the process of conducting a longitudinal study that will identify how these harmful factors lead to risky behaviors later on in life. Later in my academic career, I can use this study as a head start to a thesis or dissertation.
The REU I’m in has revolutionized my life and career as a student. I had an unconventional initiation to higher education. It’s taken me longer than most to get to where I am now, but I’m here to tell you that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I applied to the honors program, which introduced me to a whole world of opportunity, on a whim. I am beyond grateful for the path that has opened up for me and for the professors and mentors I’ve had the pleasure of working within this process.
If I had to give one word of advice? Just apply. You will never know until you try.