For the longest time, I did not know what research topic I wanted to do. I definitely knew I wanted to research on a psychological and biological area, but I could not place my finger on a topic. I was listening to music one day and realised the way my mood drastically changed after. I went from feeling lifeless, to humming along, a small, but very real smile on my face. This gave me an idea to relate music to mood – I had experienced the way it reduced my stress countless times before. I went onto the CREST website to look at the types of projects they were looking for. I realised that the research projects required primary data, or a “fresh perspective” on an issue in STEM. I could not put my finger on what type of project would be suitable under our current circumstances. I felt like I was going in circles. I did not know what topic I wanted to do, which type of project I should do, I was overcomplicating what CREST was looking for, and I felt quite unmotivated. After a few conversations with my teachers, with my friends, and researching on the topic of music therapy, I finally decided on a question:

“What are the psychological and biological effects of music therapy on individuals diagnosed with autism?”

I realised that its okay to take time to decide on what needs to be done. Refining of a question or a thought will always continue, but committing to an initial idea will be the first step forward. I then decided that I wanted to do a communications project, in which I’ll be able to (hopefully), make an engaging video which I can show to communities that support individuals/families with individuals who have autism. This will give me more satisfaction than a “Gold Award” for CREST – I’ll actually be making a difference to people’s lives, and that’s something I am passionate about. From now on, I will be researching the topic by breaking it down into different segments and recording my bibliography along the way. I aim to set a goal for each weekend so that I can ensure I’m progressing steadily towards the end result! I can definitely tell that time will be a huge challenge and struggle for me, but I need to keep pushing forward. Understanding that this project is NOT school work – it’s a way to discover what you love, and potentially a way to help people, is what will keep me motivated and happy no matter what.