It began in February, unable to get in touch with my organization in Senegal in time to get my ishh together to apply for the GPP Fellowship, and not realizing I could submit it incomplete, I dug myself into a pretty deep hole. The walls seemed vertical at times, anxiety and stress kicked in as I began to tear up as I wondered if I could even continue on my original plan to go to Senegal this summer and work with urban farmers and their organization, Provania.
However dark this hole appeared to me at moments, I actually see it as a great, super harsh, but super effective learning lesson. After my mistake with the GPP Fellowship, I have found out about the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship... two days before the deadline. Thank goodness for the literature review, because it helped me a lot in writing my research proposal - my plan, the context and existing background information or debates, and its impact potential or place in this great world/sector/area. Not to mention it gave me a bit of credit as a applicant to already be in the process of researching and writing a literature under the guidance of Lauren, our GSI, and Clare Talwaker, a notable name on campus. After scrounging together everything I needed for applying for a fellowship (first timer), such as my transcript, major verification, the proposal, a loose budget, my qualifications, contacts, etc., and a very kind Faculty Adviser, I submitted my application. & I am very grateful to be able to say that I received it!... AND they'd give me an opportunity to introduce human subject into my research (interviews, and I had applied for the non-human subjects fellowship because of a the deadline)!
... And then, I met eProtocol. My newest super galactic obstacle course. I completely understand that research involving human subjects should go through an intense board review, so I don't wish to talk down the process or its necessity at all, but I do wish to warn you all. If y'all are planning on being a main investigator, or are for some other reason in charge of filling eProtocol to Berkeley's Review Board, I highly suggest going to a workshop or talking to someone, because that thing is TEDIOUS. At times, the questions are simple, and the answers are easy, but there's just so many! With CITI training, it literally took me two weeks in between regular school assignments. At times I just wanted to ... not be nice to the computer. Being prepared for that would have really helped a girl out, here. It's funny because right after I submitted it, Chetan sent out this announcement:
DIL Workshop: IRB Approval Process
Date: May 7, 2014
Time: 1:30pm-2:30pm
Location: Blum Hall, Room 200G
Learn about the IRB Process and how to get approval for research that includes human subjects.
I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU GO!
I'm currently on the editing process, replying to comments of my reader, and am looking forward to also feeling very proud about finishing the eProtocol lesson, and gaining those skills.
Finally, my journey has come to Indiegogo. Writing my own campaign (made easy after writing the literature review and the proposal, now) and officially asking my friends, family, strangers, and all affiliated networks for money for my first time, also. I have to say, although it's not as formal or fancy as GPP or Fellowship applications, doing this has also taught me valuable things: to get over that awkward social thing of asking for money (because I'm not just asking for nothing, I believe in what I'm doing, so I just need to own it), and to learn how to change my academic jibberish into real English for all sort of peoples from all sorts of backgrounds to understand and want to support. It's kind of like I'm doing my own PR and outreach. & At the same time, I get to spread the word about urban agriculture, about food, about research, and about what I think about those things.
Finally, my journey has come to Indiegogo. Writing my own campaign (made easy after writing the literature review and the proposal, now) and officially asking my friends, family, strangers, and all affiliated networks for money for my first time, also. I have to say, although it's not as formal or fancy as GPP or Fellowship applications, doing this has also taught me valuable things: to get over that awkward social thing of asking for money (because I'm not just asking for nothing, I believe in what I'm doing, so I just need to own it), and to learn how to change my academic jibberish into real English for all sort of peoples from all sorts of backgrounds to understand and want to support. It's kind of like I'm doing my own PR and outreach. & At the same time, I get to spread the word about urban agriculture, about food, about research, and about what I think about those things.
You can find my Indiegogo at:
igg.me/at/asiagoestoafrica
It's been a struggle, it's been real, it's been a pleasure. I hope you all are set, and ready to go with money. And I hope it wasn't a struggle, but if you're in the same as I am, I just want to say that I think we're stronger now, and that it was a good journey. We can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's been a struggle, it's been real, it's been a pleasure. I hope you all are set, and ready to go with money. And I hope it wasn't a struggle, but if you're in the same as I am, I just want to say that I think we're stronger now, and that it was a good journey. We can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peace <3 Asia
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