Ellie Caro
Please briefly summarize your research.
I conducted critical discourse analysis on a corpus of Instagram posts from three different fashion brands: H&M, Reformation, and Quince. I analyzed their posts for values that they were promoting to the consumer and the manner in which they were doing so.
What made you interested in pursuing (interdisciplinary) research more broadly?
I wanted to explore ways I could pursue sustainability and also continue exploring ways of making positive change in the world.
How has it been working with faculty to transition from an assistant position to a more independent role?
OUR staff were such wonderful resources, I felt supported at every step of the process. Because of their guidance, even in moments where I was concerned about the progress of my project, I knew that I would come out the other side with a robust (and finished!) research project.
What’s been your favorite part about being in a cohort with other scholars?
Firstly and most importantly, I have found a cherished group of friends in the Emerging Scholars Program. I love the GURTs like family. In addition, I appreciated being in a space where we could discuss and support each other in our research without feeling like we were stepping on each others’ toes since we were all researching in vastly different fields.
Do you have any tips or advice for first years similar to you who are interested (but maybe hesitant) to apply for a 15 month long program?
I had no plans for my freshman (or sophomore) summer, so joining the Emerging Scholars Program allowed me to feel like I already had two summers already planned out for me and I just needed to come along for the ride. Despite the long timeline which can feel daunting if you haven’t even started, know that every month/meeting/workshop is planned to a T, so don’t feel like you have to plan out the next 15 months of your life in on go–your assignments/expectations will be communicated after each meeting 🙂
If you have presented at the Expo (at the end of your first year! You’ve achieved so much by now!), how was that experience for you?
The Expo was (bittersweet but) fun! As a performer and theater major I have a lot of experience with speaking to an audience but I’ve had less experience doing so in a nonfiction context (can I call it that?) as well as speaking from the top of my head and revising each time rather than memorizing a script. During the Expo I got to strengthen this skill and I also got the experience of answering questions relating to my poster–which might have been my favorite part 🙂
What is something that you could give a 10 min presentation on right off the cuff?
My Personal Beef with the Red, White, and Royal Blue Film (as an adaptation of the novel of the same name)
What was a memorable interaction that you had on campus this week?
I got to see my acting cohort again and we all talked about our summers (and saw photos of our professor’s wedding!)