Achieving a Rewarding Summer with Academic Exploration in 3 Easy Steps
Emma Kaeser, an aspiring researcher, is gearing up for an exciting summer ahead. In less than two months, she will embark on an internship at a public interest law organization in Budapest, Hungary. Last week, she attended a meeting to get advice on how to make the most of this opportunity.
The meeting emphasized the importance of logistical preparation, such as organizing travel and housing details, as well as introspective preparation. The intern was encouraged to treat her summer experience as field research and approach it mindfully.
Maintaining an open mind is key to enhancing research findings and the overall summer experience. Emma was advised to make the familiar strange and the strange familiar, to listen to locals' perspectives, and to ask open-ended questions. Communicating findings using locals' terms is encouraged to foster a deeper understanding of the culture and context.
Direct quotations were highlighted as the most effective means of respecting subjects' perspectives and avoiding imposing one's own vocabulary. The intern was also encouraged to frame her summer in terms of academic work, long-term plans, and the field she's working towards.
Emma was reminded to avoid being a "parachute researcher," someone who drops into a community without understanding its nuances or respecting its customs. Instead, she was advised to enroll in courses or consider pursuing independent projects related to her summer work to ensure a seamless integration of her experiences into her everyday life upon returning.
The intern is currently in the process of organizing these details and is looking forward to diving into her research in Budapest. As the date approaches, Emma is reflecting on where her research fits into her life and on what kind of researcher she aims to be.
This internship promises to be a transformative experience for Emma, offering a unique opportunity to immerse herself in a foreign culture and contribute to a public interest law organization. As she prepares for this adventure, she is embracing the advice given to her and is excited to see what the summer holds.
