I am very grateful to receive The Anderson Prize for the best Master of Research Psychology thesis in the 2020-2021 academic year. It was a very unusual year to say the least which makes me appreciate this honour even more. That being said, I do not see this award just as a recognition of my work in the last academic year. The end of my Master of Research in Psychology degree also wraps up a 5 year journey at the University of Aberdeen. This experience has changed me in many ways, but here I would like to focus on the academic aspect of it.
Looking back at my first written assignments, when I was still a Psychology fresher living in halls, I cannot help but get a funny feeling in my stomach, but not the butterfly kind, the one that makes you feel sick. It is astonishing how tutors and lecturers were able to read my truly awful initial attempts at academic writing, provide feedback, and still find positives to offer encouragement. Because of this, it is even more unbelievable that the author of those scribbles is now receiving The Anderson Prize. Such transformation would not be possible without tireless, dedicated, and immensely competent staff of the School of Psychology at the University of Aberdeen. I always felt that people working here had a genuine interest in helping the students. This prize is as much of an achievement of mine as it is of the staff working here and for that I would like to thank them.
Skomantas graduated with an MRes degree in 2021.
