In August, I was very unsure as to where I should take my research. Going into the program I knew I wanted to study something related to government and politics, but I realized this topic was very broad. Fortunately, after one of my early comparative government classes, I discovered an interest in Fascism, and this interest eventually evolved into my topic.

After my early research, I realized that I was coming across many questions that I could not easily answer. Although these questions have caused me to stray slightly from my original topic, I think that the willingness to answer questions rather than ignore questions is valuable in a research topic, and I try to act according to this belief.

The most difficult part of my research has been budgeting my time. With a difficult course-load, it is tempting to let this project take a back-seat to my other classes, but fortunately I have been able to resist this temptation. Research has worked its way into my life, and I often find myself thinking about my next source or my next question throughout the day.

The greatest challenge for the next semester will be staying focused on my specific research topic. After each new annotated source, I am left with many questions that I desire to answer. To make sure I stay on task, I will write down these questions to consider them for future research.

I have had several powerful experiences during this project, including working with my advisor and realizing the numerous current implications of past regimes. I look forward to continuing my research, and hope to share my final product with many students and researchers.