When trying to do something at a high level, it’s easy to feel like you need to approach everything with the utmost seriousness. After all, your pursuit is important! If you aren’t serious, then people will think you aren’t really into what you do.
When I first began working as an undergraduate researcher, I found myself lost within the topic I was studying. Prior to the summer, I did not have any exposure to the area, which meant I had to climb the steep learning curve that blocked me from being able to contribute.