Honestly, for the first week of this class, I was terrified. I'd never churned out writing nearly as fast as the summer semester requires (this was my first summer writing course, and it was a real shock to the system!). I was convinced there was NO way I could keep up on top of work and was honestly considering dropping it (but I didn't want to screw with Dr. H's wages any more than they were already screwed with). But I've found that with a lot of my 400 level classes, I start out feeling like there's no way I can do it (you want me to write 125 word AnBibs??? how, Dr. Nixon, HOW), and by the end, I feel like it's totally normal.
I say this a lot, but I'm really glad I entered a "proofreading death pact" with Ally, because it kept me in the class and it kept me on time. Having gotten through it, I feel like this class really helped streamline the essay process for me a bit. I feel a lot more confident about my ability to perform under pressure, although my grades would be a lot lower without Ally helping me out all semester. I mentioned this a little elsewhere, but I was certainly less persnickity about my topics (I basically ran with the first idea I had for every paper but the final one), and the fact that I still got decent grades has more a bit more confident in my ideas (and my ability to make a paper out of something I came up with three minutes ago).
I'm not sure if "GOTTA GO FAST" is the takeaway a professor would hope I'd get from their class, but honestly I think it was probably the most helpful part for me, along with a few specific sections of Harris's book (which I'll be using while reworking my Greek Mythology paper for potential publication, believe me!). Sometimes you gotta just have an external force holding a metaphorical gun to your head in the form of deadlines to really learn what you're capable of.
Honestly, Lee, you helped me so much in getting through this class as well. I'm honored to have been able to work so closely with you these past two semesters. It was a bit of a whirlwind, but we can now say that we made it. And... now that we know we can do it, other opportunities that might have seemed overwhelming before, will seem like a piece of cake for us. I have experienced something similar in this class, where I have had to come up with ideas quickly then figure out how to make them work/sound brilliant. Though it's probably not always going to be an easy thing to do, it is extremely helpful later on when I am struggling to come up with an idea for a 20 page paper and I feel like none of my ideas are good. So all in all I think this class has boosted my confidence as well. Great job Lee! It was a pleasure working with you :)
ReplyDeleteI love how supportive ya'll are of one another. And what a great take away from this class, Ally. You can do anything you set your mind to. Anything.
DeleteThe proofreading pact is great. All writers would benefit from a good reader!
ReplyDeleteThe speed thing is interesting. I think GO REAL FAST is one inescapable thing that happens with accelerated summer schedule, but it maybe also forced you to just...do it? (Like you said?) The whole "time" issue is one I've really enjoyed talking with you all about during this summer session.
And you could have dropped (but I am glad you didn't!) My wages could have taken it. ;)
I always like how you say things like, "Now here's the tricky part. It's due Tuesday. But you don't worry. You can do it." Haha... okay, maybe not exactly like that. But you get it, I'm sure.
DeleteBecause I always freak out at the "tricky part." But your calm assurance is always helpful and comforting. Similar to when the dentist says, "now this is gonna hurt," but I know he has my best interest at heart ;)
Ha! So much of teaching (at least for me!) is mixing the pep talk with honesty. :)
DeleteI completely agree. Honestly I’ve never taken a summer course in my whole life and I thought that this course was going to last longer. When I registered I had no idea it was going to be an accelerated course, however my outlook was a little different. I kept saying get past this week and you only have four weeks, get past this week and you’ll only have three weeks. Which doing that increased my motivation to keep working slowly, but surely. Though in my case I’ll never have consecutive free time, so I don’t really have a choice but to work on things slow and steady.
ReplyDeleteHa! You were doing the countdown, Hannah! It happens:) I'm a slow and steady person, too, so these classes are always interesting but are just as rewarding as a typical class, when the semester's over.
DeleteI can relate, Lee! I feel like the these summer classes are a complete "shock to the system," and at times, I feel like I'm just not going to be able to do it. But then something happens, toward the end, and I realize that it's do or die! Lol... the pressure to complete the task seems to impossible in the beginning, while pushing me (in a good way) by the end, to finish to the best of my ability. Good life lessons of what we can accomplish when we put our minds to it, I think.
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