Ism Reflection

When I applied for ISM I, I expected a rigorous course, but I also expected all of my hard work to translate to results. I also expected to learn about my topic of choice, epidemiology, along with a few professional skills that could help me in my future. What I never expected was the dramatic improvements in professionalism, research skills, and confidence that I was able to gain from just one year in this program.
The first area that I have grown in is professionalism. Before taking this course, I wasn’t really sure what professionalism looked like – other than just wearing a suit. Through this course I believe that I have grown into a young professional. I am able to walk into my mentor’s office and not feel out of place, write a professional email without using a template that you supply, and conduct mentor meetings and interviews in a professional manner. As a result, I have noticed growth outside of ISM as well. I feel that I communicate with my teachers and other adults far better than I did

This, however, will not stop me from accomplishing everything that I wish to accomplish. Part of what I want to accomplish is to complete an original work that has significant importance to me, and also to the community. This year in ISM, I thought of my final product as a distant reality for most of the year. Next year, I will begin my planning much earlier, in order to have the most refined, but thorough idea that I can by the time that I begin my with my future mentor. I will try to conduct far more interviews than I did this year. I did not realize the importance of interviews this year – I wanted to find just one person to be my mentor and I wanted to do it as quickly as possible. More interviews would have proven to be a good thing, as they provide a variety of perspectives and I would get a more rounded view of the