No matter where you're starting from, one's research journey can be full of emotions. Sometimes, it feels like wading into a sea of possibilities, with whole horizons ahead of you. At other times, it's like being lost in a dense, overgrown forest.
This page exists to validate the wide range of feelings and experiences throughout one's research journey--and features anonymized quotes from real UC Berkeley undergraduates who won, or were honorably mentioned, as part of the Undergraduate Library Prize. They've been exactly where you are. We hope you take comfort, care, and solidarity from their experiences.
View their published papers on eScholarship.
"I have become more receptive and welcoming of others’ feedback…Watching others and how they structured their papers helped me see how I should frame my own. For example [...] I noticed that my peers incorporated figurative language and analogies within their writing, which helped the audience understand their complex concepts. Because of their writing, it prompted me to write some of my favorite lines within my piece that helped complicate my argument and its significance.
“...the most important and crucial thing that I have learned through my library research journey is that the process is not solitary…the idea of exploring the library to look for relevant materials was daunting, because I held a misconception that I had to do it alone. However…I learned that although you do spend a great deal of time by yourself when researching, the help of librarians is always there when you need it.”
“With this project, I was able to experiment with various research methods, but I know that there are many more that I have yet utilized. In the future, I hope to experiment with different research methods that will allow me to find materials that can expand my ideas. Doing so, I hope will allow me to grow as a researcher, but also will help me continue to cultivate my curiosity.”
“For months I was conscious of the inefficiency of my research, but luckily (as I choose to see it) I had a seemingly-infinite pile of primary sources within just one floor of Main Stacks to sift through. The availability of these resources allowed me to learn through frequent practice and near-constant mistakes.”
"I contacted [a] subject librarian...She was very helpful in pointing out even more resources when I was stuck during the research process.”
“My discovery of the music manuscript that became the central focus of my project was purely serendipitous. I first encountered it in "The Treasury of Petrus Alamire," a catalog of surviving manuscripts from the workshop of the sixteenth-century music scribe Petrus Alamire…Initially, I was intrigued by its understated appearance, but as I read the limited literature on it—most of which dates back several decades—I realized that key questions about its contents and function remained unanswered.”
“When I first started this research (at the background research stage without a fully flushed-out research question), I was overwhelmed and unsure of where to start...Discussing my research with library staff allowed me to narrow my topic and better understand the extent of my research. Additionally, their help with choosing particular readings was invaluable.”
“... I have learned various strategies such as utilizing secondary source bibliographies, incorporating keywords, looking for related works, and, if nothing else works, asking scholars (eg. subject librarians and professors)…”
“At the start of this project, I had a linear view of research—one that began with a thesis and unfolded steadily around it. I quickly realized that this approach was backwards: one cannot form a meaningful claim without first building an argument. More importantly, I came to understand that research is not just a means to an end—it is the process.”
"Before, I was unable to even locate a book from the library…As an independent researcher, I’m beginning to understand research as a recursive process rather than a linear one...Overall, with my research journey, I’ve realized that papers are like living things that are constantly growing and evolving to fit new circumstances, allowing me to be less hesitant to rethink things and open to new ideas."
"Throughout my entire research journey, library research has seemed more accessible to me. I have become more open to asking questions…"
“I remember being frustrated in the beginning of my research journey…there were many times during my journey when I felt incapable of pursuing my research topic. However, during my consultations with the librarians, I received words of affirmation and support that helped me find confidence within my work and motivated me to continue working on my project. By offering support, they made me feel confident in my research.”