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Through the Eyes of a Junior Researcher

By Alexis Westlake, British International School of Houston, School Buzz Reporter | February 8, 2022

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Year 12 students who are participating in the Lumiere Research Program (pictured, from left) Freya M., Poppy E., Kyra K., and Alexis W. (Photo: Mrs. Jo Turner)

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a junior in high school, and to get the opportunity to write a research paper on any topic, and maybe even publish it? Well, with the Lumiere Research Program now you can, just like I have.

The program is a 12-week journey that students all over the world apply and interview to be a part of for a taste of what researching and writing a formal research paper is like. The students are paired with a mentor that has specialized in their field of interest, which could be anything. Throughout the program students will spend time researching their topic, deciding on their research question, writing a proposal on what kind of paper they would like to write, a paper outline and then their draft and final paper. Though this may seem like a lot to complete in 12 weeks, the Lumiere team is amazing at preparing you for this.

I initially started on this journey for the experience of getting to do some proper research, but also to see if this was the path I actually want to take in the future. I have always been keen on research because I love to learn about new things and to grow my knowledge. That is why I am so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to be a part of this program. It hasn’t always been sunshine and daisies; it took me a long time to get over my nerves, but now that I have, I just can’t wait to see where I will end up.

On the other hand, Kyra K., a fellow Year 12 student at BIS Houston, had a slightly different experience: “I personally haven’t been enjoying the program as much as I’d anticipated. Not because of the program itself, but more because upon proper exposure to the aspect of research, I simply found that it wasn’t exactly my preferred field of work. However, it would be wrong of me to think that participating in such a research program is a waste of time and money. Through my involvement in the program, I was able to learn more about myself and my preferences in contributing to the scientific field. Being able to see the world through the eyes of a researcher has helped me appreciate the type of work that they do for science and other fields.”

In conclusion, whether you think you want to do research in the future or are just interested in having the opportunity, I highly recommend looking into the Lumiere Research Program. It is a very wild ride but believe me it is worth it. It sets you up, not only with a better idea of what you want to pursue, but also for the new scary points in life. Whether this be for university or a job, any experience now will be truly beneficial. Plus, if I can get through it, anyone can!