I remember sitting in on the first day of the research summer, thinking the halfway point would be ages away... but here I am. The last two weeks has been such a blur, in some ways it has passed by so quickly and I am amazed of how much was done each day. 

A variety of experiences has been gifted to me, from a niche view of looking at (my) dreaded word, 'networking', to numerous workshops to train us up as research scholars. These included cultivating skills in Excel, NVivo, referencing, and mixed methods. Though sounding rather straightforward, I was impressed every time by the genuineness that exuded from every single person. I am finding that the hearts of the people are something that is so unique to the Laidlaw community, and it's something that has made this experience so enchanting. Slowly as I am surrounded by people who have so much compassion and care for others, I am beginning to realise that the career I'd like to pursue in the future needs to be based on the foundation of selflessness and care. 

In my team, it would be lying to say that we all agreed on everything. There doesn't seem to be more than 5 minutes until someone disagrees with another's idea. Whilst at times it does feel like we are going in circles, I am understanding that this persistent 'nit-pickiness' is not something sourced from spite, but the genuine desire to deliver the greatest impact for the partner schools and children we are working with. And so with personal politics or emotions removed, I find I enjoy every second of our team meetings. I find I grow and learn so much from everyone's perspectives, always challenging my own biases and revealing insights that I would have never considered if not for them. A particular favourite moment was going to the ACE (Association for Character Education) conference in Warwick, where my team and I had intensely deep discussions about philosophical dilemmas such as morality and our worldviews. There were disagreements, but because of the environment that encouraged us to disagree, I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt we got to know each other as a team on a much more profound level. 

Looking ahead, I know there are many worries that we will collect insufficient/no data. My team alone has contacted 78 primary schools in Oxfordshire (and 156 emails), and yet after half a week, we still have received 0 responses to our forms. Whilst on the surface it is not ideal, I think it's an excellent learning opportunity to think quickly on our feet and find alternative solutions to collect data. In the real world with uncontrollable environments and extreme time pressures, I know that this experience is better preparing us for future projects and so I look forward to how my team tackles this in the weeks to come!