On my second day of college, I attended my first research class. This class wasn’t just one to learn about how to research, it was a class in which we were actually going to conduct research. It’s huge to be involved in research as a freshman, but I think it should be the norm.

Before coming to Miami University, I was informed about a program called First Year Research Experience, which we like to call FYRE. As I applied for it, I was so excited for everything that might await me. When I got my acceptance email I cried. The specific program I applied for and got into focused on qualitative research.

Qualitative research is a little different than “typical” research. Most people think research can’t be performed or analyzed without statistics, but, for qualitative research, this is completely inaccurate. Because of the structure, numbers are not required to analyze qualitative research. Most of this type of research will analyze spoken words to try to determine patterns.

As interesting as I find qualitative research, I’m sure you’re falling asleep reading the previous paragraph. So, anyway, back to what happened in this class.

Some of the FYRE programs choose what research they conduct but our professor had been asked to do something a little different. There was an initiative group focused on the Age-Friendliness of Oxford that wanted Miami University to conduct research on the city of Oxford and its livability status. The University enlisted us to help with this research.

Livability is defined by AARP as “A livable community is one that is safe and secure, has affordable and appropriate housing and transportation options, and has supportive community features and services. Once in place, those resources enhance personal independence; allow residents to age in place; and foster residents’ engagement in the community’s civic, economic, and social life.”

Once again, I can talk about livability forever, but it’s not that exciting, so, I’ll get back to the good stuff.

Beginning this project, I was unsure about how I would like it. It seemed like a weird concept to me. As I learned more about it, though, I realized how this could affect my life. I have two disabled parents. This project is working to make Oxford more accessible for disabled persons. I’m not sure how research could affect me personally more than this project can.

Throughout this project, I have learned so much. Not just about livability and qualitative research, but about so many other types of research, and about so many things that I will need to use as I transfer into quantitative research (hopefully next year).

As a freshman in college, I have helped create an IRB application. I have developed research questions. I have used online programs to code and analyze data. Arguably most importantly, I researched something that taught me about my new community in Oxford and I am currently working to draw conclusions to help the community members.

Also because of this project, I am currently in Washington, DC (or maybe Columbus by now) individually presenting my research to Miami alumni and various policymakers.

As a freshman in college, I am professionally presenting original research to groups of incredibly important people.

You don’t hear that every day, do ya?

But the moral of this story isn’t “look at what I’m doing, aren’t I cool?” It’s that what I’m doing should be the norm.

Research is not just for graduate students. It’s not just for the hard sciences. Research can be done in all realms of study. Research is what we use to discover new patterns and ideas. Research is the basis of all the knowledge in the world.

My being involved with research so early in my college career has given me so many opportunities that I would’ve never had otherwise. I’ve learned so much from this and I know that I will continue to learn from it for years to come.

Miami University definitely has it right: start research as soon as you can, and continue on with it for the rest of your life.