Reputations and Personas

After taking up an undergraduate research position with a fellow UofI professor this past semester, I have noticed that I have not only gained invaluable research experience and skills but also professional and social skills regarding how to behave and act in this situation. Working closely with a professor and three other undergraduate students, acceptable behaviors and norms were set the moment we walked in the door. All four of us students knew that we should be on time if not early to our weekly meeting and emails should be sent promptly and checked frequently. It was never explicitly told to us or written out, however, once one student started slacking, it became increasingly clear. For this one student, she had originally been given the opportunity to be paid for this research position, however, the grant had fallen through and her offer had been rescinded. Her lack of incentive and motivation became clearer as her emails became less responsive and she often had to cancel on meeting times. The professor and us remaining students never talked about her change in behavior, however, it was implied that this would affect her reputation with not only the professor but also us students. So while I watched this unfold, I couldn't help but make sure I was keeping in check. Often times I would end up having to pick up the slack for her. While I really didn't mind since the work went hand in hand with what I was originally doing and actually probably would be done more efficiently by one person, I made sure I held my own weight with my original duties and kept in contact with the professor. In a way, I believe this helped me build my reputation in comparison to her's, so while her reputation continued to decrease, mine did the opposite. 

I believe that by utilizing this change in group dynamic, I was able to benefit my professional reputation with the professor and with the remaining students. The remaining students looked to me as a resource and someone who was dependable and able to rely on. So with the next upcoming semester, I was able to secure an offer from the professor to continue working with him and the remaining students and possibly even gain course credit. While I had never really thought beyond this semester and what kind of opportunity this could hold for me, I am very glad I upheld my reputation throughout the position. 

This past weekend was actually my first time that my behavior wavered. When the professor asked me if I would be free to meet a second time the following Friday, I quickly calculated in my head and realized that Friday was an open day for me, however it was also my birthday. Of course I didn't want to have to work on my birthday and had been looking forward to having the day to myself, I knew I couldn't tell the professor this truth. So instead, I told a white lie and told him my day had already been filled. While I know my moral reputation had gone down a little bit in that moment, I chose to continue to uphold my professional reputation and instead tell him this reasoning. Having to give up a little bit of my integrity to gain a free day was something I chose to do.