As I have shared previously, I was fortunate enough to secure a faculty research position through my mentor, Chris Judge at University of South Carolina-Lancaster.  Given my school, sports schedule and other factors, ideally the research would be something I could do remotely most of the time.  Luckily the remote option was available, and I have been cataloguing artifacts from the Mulberry Mound dig in Wateree, SC.  

As one would imagine, cataloguing of anything is generally done in a spreadsheet, which I expected.  What I did not expect or think about was that I mostly use Microsoft Sheets and this research would need to be completed in Excel.  I used Excel a little in the past, but not to the degree you would think, just given my age and what I use at school.  Not only did I have to settle into the tedious nature of looking up each artifact type in my identification key, but I was using software will just enough nuanced difference, that it was a little frustrating and confusing at first.

As I reflect now, I am happy to report that I have successfully taught myself how to navigate Excel.  I also enjoy the down time of plowing through the data as it is a task I can fit in when I have the time and need a change a pace.  I finished my first table and completed Mound C.  Now I just need to report my completion and ask for Mr. Judge to check my work and assign the other mounds for review.  It is satisfying to have reached the end of this first phase of research.  It seemed a little overwhelming at first, but now I believe I will be able to tackle the rest of the work with a level of confidence that I did not have before.  I am thankful that each new experience teaches me something new about myself and my abililty to rise to the occasion.