Okay, I am going to start off by talking about my stupidity! On Tuesday, in Religious Studies, we all brought our reports that we wrote about Nacirema. I am sure that you know where I am going with this, because I know that there were many of us in the same situation with this one! It was funny, because as I was reading the text I immediately thought, ‘wow, there are so many parallels between this tribe and North America life.’ I now understand why I saw these parallels. I skimmed the Wikipedia site, but I obviously did not take enough time to really understand what it was saying. That in itself was a lesson. I need to be more careful and thorough while reading. I also came to the realization that maybe it is not really a matter of stupidity and embarrassment. It proved to me that sometimes I am not ready to make a connection or view my lifestyle through a different lense. However, I now find this very intriguing. I had obviously never heard of Nacirema previous to this, but I unintentionally learned a lot from the activity.

Also, journalism class makes me happy. I know I sound like a little kid, but I love the way Michael Camp makes it so simplistic for us. The work and classes are not ‘simple’ so to speak, but the way he gets us to view writing and understand what great journalism writing looks like is very straightforward, I guess. I have assumed that, to be an effective writer, big words and fancy sentence structures were required. It came as a great relief to me when I found out that, in many cases, the opposite is quite true! I had a really inspiring time as well when I interviewed Stephanie. Her openness and honesty were, to me, a sign that she trusted me with her story. This meant a lot and now I am more motivated to do her turning point story justice. I have learned a lot about her, and in turn I have also learned a lot about myself.

Russ made a point yesterday regarding the repetition of “Doubt” as a part of our learning. I have really tried to keep an open mind to everything we have been doing and, for the most part, I have. I find that with previous ways that I have been taught and encouraged to learn I have never been asked to spend so much time with one piece of writing. Thus, I have been questioning if I will reach a point when I start to shut down to this. This is not my intension, more of a habit and a bad one at that. I am finding it hard to keep gaining new perspective about doubt in life and so on. But be patient, I am working on it.

A Shaken Brain

I have come to the realization that my learning journals seem to be a bit shallow. It is as though I am trying to make them be more professional than they need to be. So when I began to read all of the other learning journals I felt like I was freed from perfection and I feel more liberated to write more honestly (not to sound too cheesy!). Truth in Society has really taken my brain and given it a good shake and now there is more room for more information and perspectives in different places. I guess it is a mixture of the class style, our courses, the professors of course, and our many different learning assignments. I think a lot of us in the class were really unsure of why there was so much repetition and vagueness in the course. I was very confused with why we were spending so much time on “Doubt.” To me, it seemed silly and slightly annoying at first. Then I had a moment of enlightenment and I realized that I need to be way more open. I was so set in the teaching methods and class styles of high school that I was closing my eyes and mind to a much needed change. I think I am FINALLY beginning to be more aware of the fact that learning is a process and involves numerous stages. So I am trying to be more patient and understanding both in and out of the class.

I really loved listening to Michael Higgins speak this morning. People like him fascinate me because I am almost positive I could ask him anything and he could answer it in an educated way. He made a point this morning that has allowed me to look at the play in yet another way (I didn’t think that was even possible). He mentioned that in the 1960’s if you were a nun it provided you as a woman with power, authority, status and so on. I always had the impression, or maybe stereotype, that the reverse was true. Yet, now that I consider this it does make sense and I think Sister Aloysius is more reasonable maybe in the way she handles the situation. She already had power, so her accusations against Father Flynn weren’t because she was power hungry. I do believe that she was serving as the protector of those in her care. Her intention was not to hurt Father Flynn- well at least in my opinion.

There are a few other blog postings that have caught my attention or helped me think in new ways I guess. I will only point out a few though. First Khairunnisa made one statement that rings true within me. She said “This class has made me realize of how ignorant I am sometimes.” This for me has been true. Yes, there have been moments when I question what in the heck we are doing, but it always manages to lead somewhere and I always some out learning more and thinking differently than I began. Journalism has really made me think about what I consider not only important, but why I consider it important. This lesson ties in with all of our discussions on “Doubt.”

Justin also wrote in his blog and discussed in class this “Can a boy, not be curious about what it is to be a man. Is it wrong for a boy to ask questions? To seek knowledge, much like a man seeks it from an elderly. In my mind, I have difficulties with doubt. A man may want to harm a boy, because he seeks bad things. But another man may seek to help a boy, in order to be a mentor to that boy. Bad men are everywhere, and they appear in many places, so how does a man help a boy without suffering judgement from others.” He also asked a very important question to the extent of if a woman has alone time with a girl student why this is accepted as opposed to a male teacher and a male student. This is something that I am still considering and questioning.

I guess that is all for now. Believe me, I could keep going, but for everyone’s sanity I will now shut up. There have been some really great discussions and lectures on so many subjects all of which are making me ask important questions and reconsider previous beliefs and opinions that I had.

A Few Thoughts

I am finally beginning to gain more appreciation for the Aquinas program and the way in which it functions. Now that we are learning in our specific disciplines I am definitely thinking more and being more open to new ideas and thoughts all around. Journalism has surprised me in a great way. I was not sure what to expect from that specific class, but thus far, it is the course that is really opening my eyes to so many issues and topics that I need to be aware of. Also, it has broadened my perspective of what journalism actually is and the huge role that journalists play within our world. I am a naturally curious person and I feel that journalism will be a huge aid in helping me understanding how to channel that curiosity in a way that will actually benefit myself and others as well. I have a passion for being a voice for individuals who do not have a voice and I am realizing that journalism may be one way to pursue this passion. This past week I was able to attend the Michael Harris lecture which turned out to be a occasion and speech to listen to. I find it fresh to hear a story from the perspective of someone who truly cares about the specific story and has personal experience with it. I know that I have mentioned this before, but I am really glad that in all three classes and with all three professors I am being challenged to be a more critical thinker and articulator. I am finding it difficult at times to communicate what I am thinking through words and on paper, but this is a skill that I know will become sharper as the year progresses.

Doubt; a good thing?

This past week has been refreshing for me as we were able to split into our separate disciplines within the Truth in Society class and focus ob the individual courses. I do look forward to meeting in our large groups, but I think this change will be good as it will allow us to do some deeper learning. The Aquinas program is not what I had imagined it to be, as I mentioned a few times previously. It is however making me look into issues that I may generally ignore and ask questions that I have never considered before. I was getting overwhelmed at the work we were asked to do as a class. Not because it was a lot, but because it was so new to me and required me to actually think outside of my opinions. The occasions have proved to be extremely worthwhile, well at least for me. In particular, “Doubt” was amazing. I felt like I was a part of the play because the actors and actresses did such professional and incredible job at becoming their character in every way possible. I have always had a love for theatre, and this show is probably one of the best I have seen in regards to the level of acting and the story line itself. The play raised some interesting points and had some great themes that I think may help us get closer to an answer of what truth is.