Reflection #1: Initial Thoughts (Due September 16)
You’ve made your implementation plan and started conducting some research. What are your plans for the semester? What have you learned so far about your topic? What has surprised you? What questions still remain?
This semester, my research has focused on how different government agencies are working to fix the ongoing water and sewer problems in Cahokia Heights. So far, I’ve looked into the roles of the EPA, FEMA, HUD, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Each organization contributes in a different way for example, HUD’s Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery program provides funding for home buyouts after natural disasters, while the Army Corps is leading major projects like the Trunkline Rehabilitation to rebuild the city’s sewer systems and reduce flooding.
My plan for the rest of the semester is to keep expanding my research by connecting these federal projects to what’s actually happening locally. I want to see if the funding and infrastructure improvements are making a real difference for residents and if these efforts are being carried out effectively. I also plan to look into how city officials are working with federal programs and what challenges they’re facing in the process.
So far, I’ve learned that Cahokia Heights’ situation isn’t just about broken pipes or flooding, it’s really about environmental justice and long-term neglect. Even though there’s a lot of money being put into fixing these problems, the process takes time and coordination between multiple agencies. I didn’t realize how much behind-the-scenes work goes into these kinds of projects, from securing grants to planning construction phases.
What’s surprised me most is how complicated and slow the recovery process can be. For example, HUD’s buyout programs involve a lot of legal and administrative steps before families can move, and the Army Corps projects take years of planning before they’re even approved. It made me realize that fixing these problems isn’t just about funding, it’s about organization and long-term commitment.
I still have a few questions, like how effective these projects will be in the long run and whether the city has enough local support to maintain the improvements. I also wonder how residents feel about all of this. Do they see progress, or are they frustrated by the delays? Overall, I want to keep exploring how government efforts can be more efficient and fair for communities that have faced decades of environmental challenges.
Reflection #2: Observation and Inference (Due October 14)
At the start of the semester, I was lost in regards to what direction to go in when it came to my part in the group project. I wasn’t sure how to connect my research to the bigger picture or even where to find reliable sources that would help me understand what exactly would help the people of Cahokia heights. Over the semester, I started doing in depth research on government reports and documents from agencies like EPA, HUD and the U.S. Army Corps of engineers, I began to see how these organizations fit together. That helped me find my focus and understanding how federal funding and infrastructure projects are being used to improve the city’s water and sewer systems.
As the semester went on, my plans became more specific. I know exactly what I’m working towards and what outcome I want for myself as well as this project. I’ve really enjoyed learning about the behind the scenes process of how projects get approved, funded, and implemented.
Something I’ve realized I don’t like as much is how long and complicated the process can be, especially when it comes to reading through government documents or trying to track down clear updates on project timelines, but I think that’s also a valuable lesson. Research takes patience and sometimes the information you need isn’t easy to find.
Moving forward, I think these experiences will help me approach future research projects with more confidence. I’ve learned how to organize my findings and stay persistent. I’m hoping to keep developing this project by focusing more on the community’s perspective— hearing how residents feel about these government improvements and whether they believe change is really happening.
Midterm reflection
During the first half of the semester, I’ve learned a lot about how to do research and how to really understand the bigger picture behind my topic. At the beginning I wasn’t too confident about how to find good sources or how to connect everything back to our group project. But as I started looking deeper into the water and sewer issues in Cahokia heights, I began to get the hang of what direction was best for me. I learned how to find reliable information from places like the EPA, HUD, and the army corps of engineers, and how each one plays a different role in fixing the city’s problems.
A big skill I’ve gained this semester is knowing how to break down complicated information and explain it in a way that actually makes sense. Some of the government reports I read were full of technical terms, but now I can pull out the main ideas and relate them to my research question. I’ve also gotten better at organizing my notes and writing clear summaries, which has made the assignments a lot easier to manage.
Reflection #3
After working on the Cahokia Heights project for a few semesters, I’ve started to feel a lot more comfortable during our site visits and team meetings. At the beginning, I was definitely nervous because I didn’t know what to expect or how the community members would respond to us. I wanted to make a good impression but also didn’t want to sound like I was just there to collect information. Over time, I’ve become more confident in how I present myself and more open to learning from the people we talk to.
I think one of my strengths has been staying open minded and respectful during conversations with residents. When people share personal stories about the water contamination and flooding in their neighborhoods, I try to really listen and not interrupt.
Another thing I think I do well is working within my group. I’ve been helping research government organizations and programs that could provide funding or health resources for residents, and I make sure to communicate updates clearly. I’ve also been trying to keep a positive attitude during meetings, especially when things feel repetitive or stressful.
That said, I still have room to improve. I sometimes get quiet during meetings with community partners because I’m worried about saying something that sounds wrong or uniformed. I want to work on speaking up more and trusting my ideas, even if they aren’t mistakes and learning from them along the way.
Overall, I’ve learned how to be more confident, empathetic, and professional. It’s pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but it’s also shown me how rewarding it can be to do meaningful work that connects directly with people. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m excited to keep growing as both a student and a community researcher.