Prior to pursing distinction, I never thought I would do much in the way of research or have a future in academia, and was somewhat unsure of graduate studies. But wanting to distinguish myself from other Global Studies and LAS majors, I decided to pursue distinction anyways. The process was not easy, but it gave me such a hands-on experience with an area that I was interested in and extremely passionate about. It also gave the opportunity to work with and build a lasting bond with distinguished faculty members. With their support and guidance, my confidence in my field of study and writing abilities improved greatly. In the end, I was able to gather data from human subjects during my semester studying abroad, and the final product was something I was extremely proud of. It gave me an idea of what it's like to work in academia - something I once saw as impossible and now see as an exciting goal - and an excellent feel for what I might experience during graduate studies.