Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research
by Kate Doolittle
Most individuals have strong, yet quietly expressed beliefs; acting on those beliefs to promote change takes great courage and effort. I took Writing 50 in the fall of 2006, and having the freedom to choose my research topic, I decided to draw attention to childhood obesity—an issue that I am extremely passionate about. When my research Writing 50 professor, Ljiljana Coklin, suggested that I apply to present my research at the Southern California Conference of Undergraduate Research (SCCUR), I panicked. Did I care about childhood obesity, my research topic? Yes. Did I want to be heard? Yes; however, I am terrified of speaking publicly and I felt unprepared, so going to the conference was not an option. Then, during winter quarter of 2007, I joined the honors tutoring program, and became heavily influenced by the children at Isla Vista Elementary School. My research topic haunted me everywhere—children were skipping breakfast, only to gorge on grilled cheese and nachos, little girls were being teased about their overly plump bellies, and some of the children could not participate in the after school running program due to their sizes. I felt compelled to help these children. I realized that my research was valuable and that it was crucial for me to take action in order to advocate change. When Dr. Coklin asked if I wanted to apply to SCCUR's fall 2007 meeting, I seized the opportunity. I applied and was accepted. I had prepared a presentation for my research Writing 50 course, so my preparation was mostly complete. Dr. Coklin and I met at the conference, along with three of her other students.
Kate Doolittle
Presenting my research was not easy, but it was extremely rewarding. The Southern California Conference of Undergraduate Research is held at a southern California school annually, and this year, it was held at California State University, Los Angeles. Individuals passionate about their area of study come to speak and collaborate with others. It is an all day conference; however, participants are welcome to come and go as they please. As I was passionately discussing my research concerning childhood obesity, I finally realized the importance of acting on one’s beliefs. I have been heard! My voice is out there, and other individuals in the academic world can ponder and possibly act on my ideas. After presenting, I received many interesting questions; I was gleaming with pride to see people respond to my ideas and recognize the relevance of my research. Since the conference, I have developed health-related lesson plans which I intend to implement at Isla Vista Elementary School this spring. Going to the conference has been one of my most rewarding experiences at UCSB; I have overcome my fear of public speaking and have gained incredible courage to further my cause. I encourage all who wish to act on their beliefs to attend SCCUR.
Kate Doolittle is a junior majoring in biochemistry-molecular biology. She is also the tutoring coordinator for the College Honors Program.
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