Daisy Pham's Favorite Memory

My favorite class in New Directions was Dr. Ray's Research Methods in Political Science because it emphasized analytical rigor over political punditry. In addition to preparing us for the graduate project or thesis, the course challenged us to explore real-world political questions through structured quantitative and qualitative methods. This approach sharpened my critical thinking and provided me with tools to draw evidence-based conclusions. That’s especially important to me because so many aspects of politics can feel personal and emotionally charged, and I value having frameworks that help me step back and evaluate issues more objectively.