STUDENT LIFE
TRAILBLAZERS PIONEERING PROJECTS IN HONORS RESEARCH
BY AMELIA MARKEY
If
you’ve never attempted a research project of your own, you might have only a vague idea of just how daunting it can be. Often, it’s a bit like blazing a trail through the forest: first, you’ll set out on paths that others have trod before you; but eventually, you must break loose and hack your way through uncharted underbrush. Armed with nothing but raw data, others’ research and your own conviction, you must pack to be ready for anything – because no matter how well you prepare, there’s no way to pinpoint exactly where you’ll end up. By their fourth year, students enrolled in the Messiah College Honors Program are given the chance to take their first steps into the field of independent research. Not every student takes that chance – some may opt for a semester-long, honors-level course instead, which fulfills the same requirement to graduate. Those who choose the project option know they’re in for twice the time commitment, but will have the freedom to turn any of their passions into real-life projects. However, before anyone takes off into the forest of questions, databases and citations, they’ll need to find exactly which passion will direct their course.
THE SWINGING BRIDGE
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