After realizing she struggled with research methods, statistics and data analysis, Buckler, a psychology student at Flagler College, enrolled in Research in Experimental Psychology to strengthen those skills and prepare for graduate school.
That decision led to presenting original research at the Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA) Conference in March and earning admission into a graduate program. More importantly, she said, it changed the way she sees herself as a student.
Buckler transferred to Flagler her junior year and chose to study psychology after personal experiences showed her the importance of emotional safety, resilience and strong support systems. She now plans to continue that path after being accepted into the University of North Florida Mental Health Counseling program, where she will begin pursuing her master’s degree in Fall 2026.
Early in her time at Flagler, Buckler was working with Dr. Ángel Muñoz when she realized she would benefit from building greater confidence in statistics, data analysis, and research design to support her path to graduate school and licensure.
“I don’t believe in running away from challenges,” Buckler said. “I believe that facing what scares you is when you learn the most.”
That mindset led her to Research in Experimental Psychology, a course that requires instructor permission to enroll and is often pursued by students with strong backgrounds in research design and statistics. When Buckler approached Muñoz about joining, her reasoning stood out.
“She didn't come in citing her strengths,” Muñoz said. “She came in citing a gap. She wanted to enroll specifically because research methods was an area where she felt she needed to grow.”
Muñoz said that level of self-awareness is uncommon.
“Students, like most people, tend to gravitate toward what they already do well,” he said. “What Carlie showed was maturity and self-regulation. She stepped back, honestly assessed where she stood, and chose the harder path anyway.”
Buckler approached him after class to learn more about what the experience would involve and how it could help prepare her for graduate school.
“I was nervous at first, but he (Dr. Muñoz) expressed confidence in my ability to succeed,” she said. “From my previous classes with him, I knew that as long as I put in the effort, he would support me and guide me through the process.”
Once in the course, Buckler quickly learned the demands of independent research. She had to develop her own topic, create a project from the ground up, manage deadlines, and navigate an unfamiliar process without the structure of a traditional classroom schedule.
“It was very nerve racking at first since I had never done anything like it before,” she said. “However, it really helped me become more responsible and take ownership of my work.”
The biggest hurdle came during the approval process, when her project was rejected by the Flagler Institutional Review Board three times and required repeated revisions. The timing made the setbacks especially difficult, forcing her to continue working through spring break to correct mistakes and resubmit materials.
“I felt very overwhelmed when my project was rejected by the Institutional Review Board three times, and I had to keep revising it,” Buckler said. “At one point, I doubted whether it would ever be approved or if I would be able to finish.”
Still, she kept moving forward.
“What helped me most was communicating with Dr. Muñoz whenever I felt confused or lost,” she said. “He worked with me during his office hours, showing me how to export the data and analyze it to get results.”
Eventually, the revisions paid off. Her project was approved, allowing her to begin collecting data and complete the final stages of the research process.
After the course concluded in May 2025, Buckler continued refining the project independently while working with Muñoz to prepare and submit her SEPA application. Following her early graduation in December 2025, she continued collaborating with him to create the presentation poster ahead of the March 2026 conference.
“It finally started to click once the poster was completed, and I reviewed the entire process,” Buckler said. “At that point, I felt a strong sense of accomplishment.”
Her research was later accepted to the Southeastern Psychological Association conference in New Orleans, where she presented alongside students and professionals from across the region.
“Having my research accepted to SEPA and presenting at the conference was both exciting and surprising,” she said. “It felt like a major accomplishment after all the time and effort I put into developing and revising my project.”
Muñoz said Buckler’s persistence created opportunities beyond the classroom.
“The results spoke for themselves,” he said. “Carlie received multiple graduate program offers and ultimately chose to continue her studies at the University of North Florida.”
The experience reshaped more than just her résumé. It reshaped her confidence.
“This experience changed the way I see myself as a student by showing me that I am capable of handling complex and challenging work, even when I initially feel unsure,” Buckler said. “Overall, it helped me see myself as a more resilient and capable student than I previously believed.”
Looking back, Buckler said the setbacks became some of the most valuable parts of the journey.
“Failure is not a reflection of ability, but part of the process of becoming more competent,” she said. “Overall, I learned that growth comes from staying engaged with the process, even when it does not go as planned.”
As she prepares to begin graduate school, Buckler hopes other students will trust themselves enough to take on challenges of their own.
“I would encourage other students not to avoid challenges, but to trust that they can grow through them,” she said.
