Six Weeks in Review: Reflecting on My Research Journey
Weeks of research have come to an end, and I still can’t believe how quickly time flew by. It feels like just yesterday I met my cohort members for the first time as we shared our names, research topics, and the places we hoped to explore in New York.
What made these six weeks feel so short was how completely immersive they were, filled with deep-dive analysis and weekly check-ins with my mentor. Conducting a systematic review taught me so much about academic literature, from mastering language and writing style to understanding the structure of research papers themselves. Because there were few papers on my specific region of focus, expanding my analysis to papers from around the world allowed me to engage with different cultural contexts and social frameworks.
Right now, I am actively writing my research paper. The process feels manageable and rewarding because I now have a much clearer perspective on how to approach academic research.
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Melody Matavire is a prospective Physics and Data Science major with a deep passion for both STEM and social impact. While science and technology shape much of my academic interests, I have also become increasingly aware of the social challenges that continue to affect communities and shape people’s lives in lasting ways.
One issue that is especially close to my heart is early teen pregnancy and school dropouts. Growing up, I witnessed how situations like these can alter the trajectory of young people’s futures, particularly for girls whose educational opportunities become limited long before they are able to fully explore their potential. Through the Laidlaw Scholars Programme, I hope to research how comprehensive sexual education can be used as a practical and culturally relevant tool to address early teen pregnancies and reduce school dropout rates.
Beyond academics and research, I enjoy exploring new experiences, asking too many questions, and finding connections between science, society, and everyday life, otherwise you can also find me in the kitchen cooking whilst singing.
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