A small but powerful choice I made that helped me move forward in my academic journey was applying to the Ronald E. McNair program at CSUF. After taking a few upper division classes for my major, I had a newfound interest in pursuing research. I wasn’t sure if I’d be smart enough or succeed as a researcher, but I decided to get out of my comfort zone by applying to this program, which supports undergraduate students from marginalized communities to prepare for graduate school. I was fortunate enough to have been accepted into this program, and this summer I got to learn more about what my future could look like if I do get accepted into a Master’s or Ph.D program after completing my Bachelor’s.
While I still experience imposter syndrome, I’m confident that I can succeed, as I was accepted because they saw my potential as a future researcher. I look forward to embarking on the next chapter of my academic journey and I can’t wait to do research next summer at another institution. This small, yet big decision will allow me to conduct my own research, become an expert in my fields of interest, and slowly close the gaps in research while bridging the gap of marginalized representation.
