Most of you, bright students, feel overwhelmed at this point in our little research project. Most of you are doing this academic essay thing for the very first time, and let's just all acknowledge truth here: there's a steep learning curve!
Whether you're still struggling to pinpoint your topic or struggling to keep from going cross-eyed at all these databases, let me assure you -- what you're experiencing is normal. Can I encourage you to lean into the struggle? Keep listening to Ballenger's advice in Curious Researcher; keep asking questions; keep looking for clarity. It will come!
But also remember where we started our semester with the mandate from our Creator to be cultivators and creators. You have the distinct honor of cultivating and creating something new through this research you're doing! You're gifting the world with your new idea or your brand-new perspective. Wow!
Tonight I was browsing the web and came across another blog post titled "Too Much Self-Doubt? Try Thinking Like a Creator" from The Chronicle of Higher Education. While this post is written to professional academics (graduate students and professors), you could rewrite the examples and advice to apply to you (and you should).
My favorite lines from the post maintain that "To think like a creator, however, is to always keep in mind what it is that you want to do, to build, to create in the world...[because] when you’re in the mindset of the creator you can more accurately evaluate what it is that you still need to learn and what you can do to begin making your own contribution."
So come up for some air, clear your head, and set your eyes on being a creator!
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