Thank you so much for taking the time to share your insights and research experience. I loved hearing about your research experience with first-generation college students at Butte College. Explicit teaching of study skills is essential and was something I didn't learn until college...but that was through trial and error. Thank you for sharing!

I would like to start off by thanking you and all of the work that you have done in language acquisition. I found it to be similar to what I hope to study and research in the future but with Spanish speaking people. Thank you for your story and reminding me that research is a messy process but to keep on going. Thank you again.

I also liked how you described the research process where you start with a question and even if it's not the exact set question that you want to focus on, that it provides this foundation for your research and you start going down the "rich diverse rabbit hole of ideas and knowledge" and how through this exploration, you're then able to keep evolving your research question.

Thank you kindly for your insight. It was so good to hear your story and the passion involving your research. I loved to hear about your experience with your grandma and how you used it as a way to understand the gaps in education. Also, I always write down random thoughts in my notes on my phone pertaining to teaching and researching, even at the most random times! So it was relatable when you advised us to trust the process, and take necessary breaks because you might have random thoughts after giving yourself a break.

I had the pleasure to take my capstone class with Dr. Thompson and I love her so much. She was one of the teachers who truly inspired me and was such a cheerleader through undergrad!

I liked how you acknowledged that sometimes we may have road blocks along the way, but taking breaks when necessary is important too.

Thank you for sharing your research on language and literacy, society and culture. Your research on the German American Experience reminded me of my own Mexican-American experience and those of my community. I think your dedication to this area of research is admirable. It truly shows your interests and passion to improve communities and our society. I took special interest in your research on first generation students as I myself am a first generation student. I think it is important to amplify the voices of these marginalized students and your use of ethnographic research methods proved to be impactful. A key takeaway that I have from your study on first generation students leads me to believe that focal interviews are often better than surveys when it comes to gaining access to insights that otherwise would not be found from surveys. I resonated with those students you studied specifically when you mentioned the anxiety of them not belonging and the imposter syndrome that they experienced. I agree that representation matters and this thought led me into a positive and hopeful reflection that I can learn from those like me and hopefully become someone that can help guide or inspire others. I think another reason why I felt reflective is because your research and your work feels relatable to my own experiences and how I am as a learner, how I view myself as a learner and my habits. I liked when you said, “The human experience is organized principally through narrative” and how it's a powerful idea. This leads me to wonder what and how I tell my own story and my own experiences and the impact it might have on my own reality. I found your method of interactional analysis and relationship familiarity interesting and it makes me think of how I interact with others and what I can learn from analysis. Lastly I want to thank you for saying that research is messy, full of uncertainty and self-doubt. It does feel like that at times and it is reassuring to hear that I am not alone in this feeling. I will try to follow your advice to let go of these scary and negative feelings. Thank you for saying that teacher's research everyday because we do. I will trust the process and I hope to learn more about you and your work.

Your story really resonated with me. When you mentioned your grandmother not being allowed to speak German at home, it made me think about my own family history. My grandparents were second-generation Mexican Americans, and they were also discouraged from speaking Spanish in their household. Hearing that connection made me reflect on how language and culture can be lost through generations, even when families are just trying to fit in.

I also really connected with what you said about research being “messy.” The part about dead ends, frustration, and self-doubt hit home for me. It’s a good reminder that when I run into those roadblocks, it’s not that I’m failing, it’s just part of the process.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and reminding me that research isn’t supposed to be perfect.