Rosa - 4th Year International Business Student
Meet Rosa Bach, a 4th-year International Business student graduating in February 2025. Her journey through graduation research with CIBR at HAN was both challenging and rewarding. Here, she shares her experiences, skills gained, and valuable lessons learned along the way.
From Research Rookie to Networking Pro: My Journey with CIBR at HAN!
Graduation Research Adventure
For my graduation research, I worked with CIBR, a research center within HAN. This opportunity provided high independence while requiring a lot of balancing, yet it came with immersive support from the team! I chose this project because I wanted to contribute to existing research and explore its full potential for impactful findings.
Challenges and Triumphs
The trickiest part of my research was balancing my lectures, work, and the research itself since everything was in my own hands. I tackled this challenge by organizing my week meticulously and relying heavily on my calendar app, which surprisingly became my best friend throughout the semester!
Highlights and Wins
Although it's too soon to say how my research has changed my academic and career dreams, it certainly improved my self-discipline and networking skills. One of the most exhilarating moments was after my research defense when my supervisor approached me about the possibility of publishing my piece and being a co-author!
New Skills and Superpowers
During my research, I gained the courage to reach out to people on LinkedIn for interviews and learned to accept that not everyone would respond. This taught me resilience and the importance of perseverance. These skills will make me a career superhero by enabling me to stay in control and not be discouraged by setbacks. I now understand that while things may not always go my way, continuous effort will lead to eventual success.
The earlier you begin, the less stress you'll experience. Great things shouldn’t be rushed.
Ace Your Grad Research: Why Starting Early is Your Secret Weapon!
Advice for Future Adventurers
My top tip for students about to start their graduation research or internship is to start early. The earlier you begin, the less stress you'll experience. Great things shouldn’t be rushed. One memorable instance highlighting this advice was when I scheduled an interview at 3 am due to time zone differences. The conversation extended longer than planned, and I ended up learning so much more!
Final Reflections
While my research journey wasn't filled with constant excitement, one memorable experience was spending quiet hours in the library with friends. We would sit beside each other, completely focused and working individually but together. This experience showed me how much one can accomplish in a supportive environment, even in silence.
This journey has shaped my dreams for the future by reinforcing the importance of discipline, organization, and the power of a strong network.
