My name is Linh Huynh and
I am a student researcher in the Communication field. My interests vary between
multitudes of topics, but regarding academia I am passionate about health and
communication. People oftentimes do not realize how they arrive at their
perceptions or attitudes about a particular subject. I wish to explore more in
depth about how nonsmokers develop their attitudes about electronic cigarettes
(e-cigs/vapes). I am always interested in how people think and how they
communicate, or convey their thoughts and feelings to others. Originally my
interest in my topic stemmed from my own personal life, as I used to be a
smoker. Furthermore, electronic cigarettes are a rising trend, especially among
young adults and teenagers. However, the lack of knowledge surrounding e-cigs
is concerning. 
My research project
relates to my long-term career goals since I wish to pursue a career in health
communications. Many people lack knowledge in a variety of topics that concern
their own health, and I want to change that. My investigation has given me the
opportunity to thrive in research and facilitate my learning at a graduate
level, in order to become more prepared for a higher education.
On a weekly basis I enjoy
immersing myself in reading and staying up-to-date on current events and news,
particularly news that pertains to health and/or communication. More so, I
enjoy perusing the Internet for health-related blogs and learning new
information. Additionally, as a communication major and an extrovert I love to
interact with as many people as I can.
Learning about
interpersonal and intrapersonal communication is something that I have always
been interested in. While surveying students for my research this week, I
learned that while many people would prefer using e-cigs over cigarettes, they are
not actually informed about e-cigs. This only enforced my original belief that
an increase in knowledge nationwide with regard to health is crucial to our
growth as a nation.
