Ashley Murphy, Blog 10

Address your journey in 332.  Did you change?  What did you discover about yourself? Your community?  What will you do with what you learned?

During the first weeks of class, I was a bit intimidated by the structure and openness of discussions. As a class, we were instructed to voice our opinions, even if they were not politically correct, to transcend the bounds of society, and to accept one another unconditionally. I didn't really speak up unless I absolutely had to. Looking back, I wish I had taken more of a vocal role in class; I was definitely an involved listener, however I could have made a more significant impact to the class.

I think this class has changed me. I have learned to not accept anything at face-value and to question the world around me. I think this was especially exemplified in the activity in which we grouped ourselves based on our heritage. I am still struggling to discover who I really am so that I am able to project the most accurate view of myself to the world. 

In class, I discovered a community of people that truly cared not only about the class community but the community of our school, our nation, and world. I didn't love every movie, but that helped me analyze them more critically. As I embark on the second half of my undergraduate education, I will be more vocal in my classes and participate in discussions. I will be more confident in giving answers and voicing my opinions in and out of the classroom. I'd like to thank my classmates for providing such an entertaining class and being so enlightening. I'd also like to thank you, Professor, for challenging us to think and question society.