Sampling My Honors Experience
This was my first honors contract at IU Indianapolis. An honors contract is a project that students collaborate on with a professor in one of their classes. I completed this project for my genetics lab, and worked with my lab TA to create the final product.
For my honors project, I examined the ethics of methadone access for individuals with opioid use disorder. I developed an eight-minute presentation explaining what methadone is, the history of its regulation and stigmatization, and strategies to expand access. I chose this topic while interning at a buprenorphine clinic, where I strengthened my communication skills by engaging with attending physicians, asking informed questions, and exploring practical solutions to improve access.
A picture of the buprenorphine clinic team I interned with
During the research phase, I developed targeted questions for my supervisors to gain firsthand insight into methadone treatment and the barriers surrounding it. I then translated my findings into a clear, accessible presentation for audiences unfamiliar with opioid use disorder and its treatments, while also learning to articulate and defend my own evidence-based perspectives.
One of my main challenges was determining what information to prioritize. With twenty-two citations, I initially included more detail than an eight-minute presentation could sustain. I had to critically evaluate my material, streamline my arguments, and focus on the most essential points.
I practiced my ability to read scientific articles, and decode their meanings, and learn the key takeaways of the readings. I then developed my abilities to compile and present my findings, and expand on them, inferring implications from them. As a part of research, I created an effective presentation-- practicing my oral presentation skills, displaying my research, and conveying my ideas in a way that was digestible for my audience.
Through this project, I discovered my ability to navigate complex, stigmatized issues, form well-supported opinions, and communicate them effectively. I gained confidence in my research, presentation, and critical thinking skills, and developed a deeper sense of empathy for those affected by opioid use disorder. This experience strengthened both my academic abilities and my commitment to advocating for more equitable methadone access.
I have developed a passion for aiding those who are impacted by opioids and the opioid epidemic, and volunteer regularly with Overdose Lifeline to pack overdose reversal kits, due, in part, to my experience with this project and learning about the stigma and dehumanization people with opioid use disorder face.
The Narcan waiting to be packaged into kits