Managing Anxiety in Nursing Students Elizabeth Estes ’26 (Nursing) (see photo on previous page) drew from her own experience with anxiety as inspiration for her Honors project. Her research explores how college nursing students manage anxiety and depression and what factors influence their choices—with the goal of better supporting nursing students’ mental health and overall well- being. “I’ve heard from other students who’ve had similar experiences with nursing school and the mental battles that come with it. I wanted to study how often nursing students deal with these emotions and how impactful those strategies have been. My goal is to make an impact—even a small one—and help others find ways to manage these feelings so they can be successful in their nursing journey.” Protecting Public Health Through Chemistry With the growing popularity of protein powders and supplements—and the lack of federal oversight on their ingredients—Aidan Muñoz ’26 (Chemistry) wanted to take a closer look at what consumers, including his own friends and family, might really be ingesting. His Honors project examines whether organic and non-organic protein powders contain different levels of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and copper. “I hope that my research might serve as a piece of statistical evidence as to whether or not these powders are marginally harmful to the public. When I publish this research, I hope it inspires others to continue the work of analyzing these products and encourages some federally governed body to take note of this lack of regulation for the sake of public health.” Examining Democracy in Crisis Kyawt Ya Ti Oo (Joy) ’26 (Political Science, International Relations), a Burmese international student, has made her Honors project deeply personal. She witnessed firsthand how political instability and military control in Myanmar (also known as Burma) shaped daily life, particularly for ethnic minorities who are often silenced or displaced. Her research examines both the long-term and immediate causes of Myanmar’s 2021 military coup—an event that abruptly ended a decade of fragile democracy—including decades of military dominance, constitutional weaknesses, economic struggles exacerbated by the pandemic, ongoing ethnic conflicts, and tensions surrounding the 2020 Burmese election. “This project bridges two worlds: my academic journey here at UIndy and my personal roots in Myanmar. This project is not just about analyzing a political event for history books; it’s about carrying the voices and experiences of my people back home who continue to live under dictatorship, many of whom can no longer speak for themselves.”
Aidan Muñoz ’26 (Chemistry)
Kyawt Ya Ti Oo (Joy) ’26 (Political Science, International Relations)
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UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
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