A World View
In terms of my general worldview, what can be known is a matter of opening up your mind to possibility. We are talking about knowledge, right? So there is a quote by Socrates that says, "To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge". I disagree with that because a fundamental truth is that people are born, and one day each one of us will die. Also, I know what it's like to love and be loved. The best way to understand the world is to be willing to open yourself to new experiences and situations. Having a well-rounded view of everything and situations allows you to process the world with a better perspective, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Research to me is finding out the why and how to a particular question or concept and then applying it in a new or creative way, whether or not it generates new ideas, theoretical frameworks, or methods. I am still learning. Still, it does increase your understanding and awareness, but also opens you up to more questions. If you are not careful, you could get lost down a rabbit hole. The purpose of research is to explore a situation, concept, or problem and seek a solution or enlightenment to advance understanding of the world. The purpose of research is to progress society through technology and innovation. I like research. This summer, I had the opportunity to complete a qualitative research study dealing with narratives. It was so interesting, but I found myself getting consumed by the stories, the new knowledge I was gaining, and wanting to try various things with the collected data. Studies dealing with numbers have value because it's definitive. It speaks in numbers. Realistically, I prefer a mix of both numbers and narratives.
My primary focus for future research is to collaborate with a community that shares my research interests, whether in a corporate, grassroots organization, or community partnership, given my focus on multimedia and health communication with a concentration on innovation for well-being.
An opportunity to work at a prestigious university on the West Coast in higher education in my field of public health. I realized that my desire to help future generations and bridge the gaps with my generation and others won't be happening in higher education. Moving forward in my career, my aspiration to continue my research will look different from what I thought. I am keeping my eyes and ears open to the possibilities of continuing my research interests and obtaining new knowledge. Isn't that what life is about, experiencing the new?
Just maybe you learn lessons about yourself, life, and most of all how to get or maintain your peace.
