Month: December 2025

Over the last few months, researching the question “What are some ways to get young adults involved in water conservation?” has been a process that pushed me academically, personally, and creatively. My project focused on gathering real data through interviews and transforming that information into content-based videos designed specifically for young adults. I chose media as my main tool because young adults rely on digital platforms for information, motivation, and awareness. Throughout this experience, I learned that reaching people where they already are online is one of the most effective ways to introduce environmental topics and encourage meaningful action.

A big part of this research involved talking to others, collecting their perspectives, and organizing their ideas into something that could be understood, shared, and visualized. Conducting interviews taught me how to ask better questions and how to listen intentionally. Each conversation helped me see how differently people think about water, community responsibility, and environmental habits. I learned that young adults are not uninterested. They are simply overwhelmed, busy, or unsure of where to begin. Many expressed that simple, relatable, visual content could help them engage more. Hearing this directly from the community made my project feel more grounded and realistic.

Working with other people throughout this process helped me grow in ways I did not expect. Collaborating with team members pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and trust my own abilities. During group discussions, I realized that everyone brings something unique to the table, and that my ideas had value. Creating videos, planning interviews, and reviewing feedback together helped me become more patient, more open-minded, and more willing to ask for help when I needed it. These partnerships also made the work more enjoyable and less intimidating.

Additionally, working with community partners in online meetings strengthened my communication and professionalism. I gained confidence speaking in structured settings, presenting updates, and explaining my research choices. At first, I was nervous to talk in front of people I didn’t know, but over time I became more comfortable sharing my thoughts and contributing to the conversation. This experience showed me that I am capable of representing my work clearly and respectfully. It also taught me how important it is to be prepared, to stay organized, and to follow through on responsibilities.

This project also taught me new things about myself. I realized that I learn best through hands-on work and real conversations, not just reading articles. I discovered that I enjoy creating digital content, especially when the purpose is to educate or inspire others. I also learned that I am more creative and more capable of leadership than I once believed. Seeing how my interviews became meaningful content made me proud of the effort I put in.

Overall, researching water conservation through youth engagement allowed me to combine creativity, communication, and community work. I gained skills that will carry into future projects, and I developed a deeper understanding of how media can influence positive environmental behavior. Most importantly, I learned that even small efforts like videos, conversations, or shared stories, can inspire young adults to care about water and take action.

CODES Group Contract

Group Topic: Young Adult 

Group Member’s Names: Jasmine , Sam, Zuleryi , Jaiden , Ayiana, Laylah, Isaiah

Communication

How will you communicate with one another?

Email , Imessage, Weekly Group Meeting Notes on Word

Where will you store your files so that everyone has access?

Google drive 

Files 

How often will you check in about your work, and what kinds of things will you report? 

Weekly – Every Sunday at least

Report – work progress, next steps plans, and group/personal motivation 

What platforms will you use for collaborative writing? 

Word 

Google Docs 

What rules will you use in your collaborative writing work? 

No plagiarism 

The work load will be divided evenly 

Rough drafts are mandatory 

Ground Rules 

How will you set up a working environment to make sure you are progressing in your work? 

Structure Schedule 

Break down of tasks 

Communication (iMessage group chat)

Weekly Meetings/Factime Calls 

How will you resolve issues or arguments? 

Meetings with DR.M 

Weekly mood check 

How do each of you tend to act in a team and what goals do you each have for collaboration?

Sam – I plan on getting my work done and doing whatever my role is. I plan to stay in constant communication with the people in my group. 

Jasmine – I have goals of keeping my team on track and structured. Writing things down to keep record of everything.

Jaiden – I will ensure that I am ahead of my portions of the project. If anything unexpected comes up in my life, I will keep both my team and Dr. Martinez updated on the status of my sections.

Ayiana – I will get my work done on time and put my full effort into everything we do. A goal I have is to communicate my ideas with my team.

Laylah- I will plan on contributing to the group and meeting group expectations and deadlines. I will communicate any ideas, questions, and comments among group members.

Team Member Roles and Responsibilities – For Implementation Plans, etc

List the name of each team member and what they will be responsible for in the project. This will include their assigned sections, but also what they’ll contribute to the team in other ways. Think about who is in charge of communication, who is in charge of technology issues, who keeps track of the larger vision and makes sure everything fits it, who is responsible for quality control, etc.

Implementation Plan (this is entirely collaborative):

Section 1: Research Questions – who will compile them? (1 person suggested)

Jasmine 

Section 2: Geographic Focus and Stakeholders (2 people suggested)

Jaiden

Laylah 

Section 3: Data Collection (each person will submit section, 1 person will compile)

Sam Lee

Section 4: Implementation (2-3 people suggested)

Ayiana

During this project, I’ve realized that some of the research I am doing is very similar to the work and research that others around me are also completing. When we came to the midpoint of our projects, I began to notice that many of us were using similar approaches to collect data, even if our topics and goals were slightly different. Those similar approaches included doing interviews, attending community events, hosting conversations, and finding ways to directly interact with the people most connected to our research questions. Some groups conducted focus groups, others created surveys, and a few even planned special events so they could gather the exact information they needed from their participants. Seeing everyone take their own path but still use comparable research methods helped me understand how flexible and creative qualitative research can be.

After collecting all of our data and discussing what our next steps would be, I realized that although we used similar methods, the way we organized and processed our information looked different for each person. For example, I put my data together by watching and reviewing video recordings from my interviews. This approach worked well for me because I enjoy working with digital media and content, and I find it easier to understand people’s emotions, tone, and explanations when I can replay what they said. Other classmates had to take completely different approaches. Some had pages of interview notes they needed to code and sort into themes. Others had to continue sending out surveys to gather additional information because their early responses did not give them enough details for reliable conclusions.

Watching others go through that process made me more aware of the variety of challenges that come with research. While I primarily focused on recording, reviewing, and clipping video for my data, others had more time-consuming tasks that required them to chase down participants, revise questions, or reorganize their entire data set to make sense of it. Some students mentioned how difficult it was to interpret handwritten notes or how frustrating it felt waiting for survey responses that never came on time. Others had to re-interview participants because their first round of questions didn’t give them enough depth. Seeing these struggles helped me appreciate the process I used and made me realize that my method of data collection. Although still work was slightly easier for me than the processes others had to follow.

This comparison helped me learn an important lesson: every researcher’s process is shaped by the tools they choose, the type of data they collect, and the way they naturally work best. My strength is working with videos, analyzing conversations, and editing content, so that method felt natural and efficient. Others excel in organizing written notes, coding themes, or handling large sets of survey data. Understanding these differences made me appreciate not only my own workflow but also the creativity and dedication required for others to make sense of their data. In the end, this experience taught me that research is never one-size-fits-all. It requires patience, adaptability, and a willingness to adjust depending on what the data demands.

During this experience, I had to learn how to focus on what truly mattered in my research, especially when it came to asking meaningful questions and collecting data through interviews. At the event, I was immediately pushed into hands-on work, which challenged me to step out of my comfort zone but also gave me a valuable opportunity to gather my data directly from the people involved. Instead of relying on secondhand information or observations from a distance, I had the chance to talk to individuals face-to-face and listen to their personal experiences, concerns, and ideas. This approach helped me understand how important it is to be fully present in the moment when doing community-engaged research.

Most of my data came from conducting interviews. In those interviews, I asked questions that helped me uncover how people think about water conservation, why they value it, and how their backgrounds, identities, and communities shape their views. These questions were things like, “What influenced you to come out to this event today?”, “What did you think you’ll possibly gain from this event?”, “What did you gain from this event? If you’ve gained anything, if someone were to come up to you and explain what you’ve done and the purpose for it, how would you describe it?”, “What did you find most interesting about this event?”, and lastly, “Would this be something you’d recommend to a friend?”. Asking questions like these helped me gain a deeper understanding of how water connects to more than just the environment. It connects to identity, culture, memory, and community. Many people shared personal stories about their families, their neighborhoods, or traditions they grew up with, and those stories revealed how emotional and cultural water-related issues can be.

This experience also helped me understand the importance of designing youth-centered approaches to community work. Hearing people talk about their experiences made me realize how essential it is to create spaces where young people feel heard and respected. Young adults have their own experiences, insights, and leadership abilities, and when they are given the chance to speak and take initiative, they often bring creativity and energy that adults may overlook. Throughout the process, I reflected on how often spaces for community problem-solving are led mainly by adults, even when the issues affect younger generations the most. Recognizing this pushed me to think about how research and community programs can be structured differently, making room for youth voices, letting young people lead conversations, and valuing their lived experiences as valid forms of knowledge.

Overall, this project taught me how important it is to be intentional with the questions I ask and the ways I collect data. It helped me see that research is most powerful when it is rooted in real human experiences rather than just information gathered from afar. The hands-on work reminded me that meaningful research often requires stepping into the community, listening deeply, and allowing participants to shape the direction of the conversation. Most importantly, this experience emphasized the value of youth-centered engagement in discussions about water conservation and community wellness. By respecting young people’s voices and giving them space to lead, we can design approaches that not only address environmental issues but also support identity, culture, and community empowerment.