Last
spring, I conducted a research project about the experiences of mobile food
vendors in Washington, D.C., through OSCAR’s URSP.
My favorite part of this experience, by far, was the
data collection phase. On a typical day
of collecting data, I would canvass food truck hotspots around the city and interview vendors during the downtime before the lunch
rush. Vendors
shared their stories, offered tips and tricks of the trade, and gave me the
lowdown on what’s
happening in the vending community. At one point, I was even recruited on board
to help cater
to a sudden crowd of tourists!
While
there were many laughs, almost everyone shared their struggles since the city enacted
more restrictive vending policies. Many
traditional street vendors disclosed multiple arrests,
criminal charges, and excessive fines as a result. On the other hand, many gourmet food truck
drivers shared stories of success and how they expanded their businesses
despite the change
in policy. This contrast begged the question: why are the experiences of mobile
food vendors
who operate in the same industry, governed by the same set of rules, so
different? As it turns
out, my findings from last year raised more questions than answers that I hope
to address in continuing
my research this semester.
Overall,
my URSP experience enhanced my education in so many ways. It enabled me to follow
my curiosity, challenge myself as a student, and explore a different career
path that I would
never imagine considering. It also gave me a chance to engage with student
researchers from
various disciplines. I found it incredibly
inspiring and motivating to join a community where
everyone is just as excited about following their curiosities. Finally, this
experience fostered
a greater appreciation for my education. It offered me a unique vantage point
where I could
see the culmination of all the knowledge and skill that I’ve worked so hard for throughout
my years at Mason. This makes it all worthwhile.
