Although most of my research has taken place gazing out of my Harmony Hall single, I have also discovered a great deal of insight roaming around the streets of Chinatown to deeply contemplate the concepts regarding forgiveness. As a Chinese American, my first instinct in this project was to study my own culture, one I was already deeply familiar with. However, as I began exploring literature and laboratory studies, I found myself captivated by sources centered on Korean Americans connected to forgiveness. In conversations with other Laidlaw scholars (Sebastian, Liza, Sciana, and Hannah) and my Graduate mentor (Nox), we spoke of an overlooked aspect of research: time spent within the contemplation and outside of dissecting literature. Walking these familiar streets allowed me to engage with the unfamiliar. On these walks, I considered and processed the connections between ideas within the research studies I have consistently been engaging with.
Over this month alone, I could not have done my research without my peers, my faculty mentor Professor Son, my graduate mentor Nox, my librarian Kae, and especially not without exploring the unfamiliar.
Hi everyone! I am a rising Senior at Columbia College majoring in Cognitive Science and Visual Arts. As part of the 2024 Laidlaw cohort, I am deeply interested in the intersections of psychology, social anthropology, and the arts. My first summer specifically focused on understanding the role of forgiveness within Korean American communities.
This second summer, I am working at the Gardens, Libraries, and Museums (GLAM) at the University of Oxford to support with their community engagement team. My work includes creating more accessibility for the elderly and people with disabilities, and also using the archives to spotlight individuals who overcame adversity to promote mental well-being amongst youth.
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This was incredibly insightful, Justin. Being around the field of medicine this summer has taught me that the research process is typically seen as collecting data, analyzing it, and then presenting the findings. However, you have highlighted a crucial aspect—dedicating time to internalize and thoroughly understand the data before presenting it. This step is essential to fully grasp the implications of the research and effectively communicate them to the community. I am excited that you have made such an important realization early in our research journey, and I look forward to hearing about your insights from this summer!
I'm glad that you brought up such an important point of research -- to be able to sit with oneself in order to process all that one has learned, giving one time to ponder over these new ideas and connect new thoughts that may prove to be insightful. I am glad that you were able to allow yourself to do this; it's highly important! I am excited to see where your research takes you, and the new discoveries that you make -- not only within the topic you are researching, but also within yourself.