Final Portfolio

Reflecting on ones self is very difficult. I have enjoyed this course so far because it has helped me improve tremendously on my writing while also incorporating history. I have always enjoyed learning types of history. Everyone in my group has played a role in helping me understand the time period, authors and literature because they have explained them differently, each piece being put together. I am proud of every piece I have written, however, I wish it was easier for me to express things and the way I feel through writing. As I said, this class has helped tremendously, but I still do not see myself as being where I would like to be in writing

Since taking this class I have realized that the most important part of this class to me is improving on my writing. I have really enjoyed the essays that we have written because I feel that they have been very reflective all together. I really enjoyed writing the letter to the immigrant, because it really makes me understand more what it was to be an American and reflect on what I feel it takes to be an American. I feel that John De Crevcoeur’s essay “What is an American” really helped me understand more what it really means to be an American. Writing this essay also made me realize that I need to practice my American rights, but I need to learn more about our world. I have never been very big into politics because it has never really interested me, I have always just voted for the same candidate that my parents voted for because that is all I knew. When the next presidential election comes in 2012 I want to be more informed on each candidate and vote for the one that I feel has the same ideas and thoughts that I do.

Week two, when we talked about the “Sublime” was one of my most favorite weeks thus far in this class. I really enjoy talking about experiences and things that make me excited. I really enjoyed reflecting on the time that was the sublime for me, because it was one of the most important days of my entire life. . I also really enjoyed reading my committees sublime moment, some being very happy and some not being so happy. I found it very interesting to see what others thought a sublime moment was for their own selves. I also really enjoyed writing the ghost story (please look at Erin Edwards response) for our discussion board that week. While trying to either remember or make up a story at work, I started talking to some of my coworkers and they told me about all the creepy things that had happened to them in the building and thus my ghost story came to be. The funny thing now, is I am scared to be in some rooms of my workplace by myself. This I feel may be a different type of sublime, because sometimes when I am in a room by myself my heart starts to beat really fast and I turn and look behind me to make sure there is no one there.

Week four I really enjoyed as well, because it gave us time to reflect without having a phone, a computer, or any type of technology period with us. I really enjoyed this week because it really gave us a chance to reflect on ourselves and the beauty that is before us every day. Most of the time I see that people as well as myself, take for granted the beautiful nature that God has created for us. There is so much to enjoy and so much life to see, not just with animals, but with plants, trees and other things. Fortunately, I have the perfect place to really experience the beauty of nature, basically, whenever I want. I spoke about this place in my discussion board (please look at Erin Edwards response). I also enjoyed this week because I got to reflect on what I feel living your life to the fullest is all about. This I feel went hand in hand with nature, because when a person is alone with nothing to distract them these are the things that they think about, at least that is what I think about.

Week five was enjoyable and I learned a lot about my self. I really enjoyed thinking about what I would like my ideal self to be. I have found through out this class that I have never really been a complex thinker I have always just lived for the moment. With this assignment it made me realize that there are things that I want to accomplish in my life not just for my self, but for my soon to be husband and my family. My family has always wanted me to go far and up until recently I have never believe in my self that much. Since thinking about what I want to do with my life I have realized that I can do what I want with my life.

The writings we did on weeks six, seven and eight I feel were the most challenging for me. I have never really enjoyed watching or reading the news therefore writing about a social practice I feel was very difficult, I was not completely ready to write about something as complex as that. Although, I feel that in a way I was still very excited about writing about the issue that I chose because it really gave me a chance to learn about something new. Also, writing the workable solution for me I felt was very difficult. These parts of the course are what made me the most excited and made me break out of my shell. I am not confident about writing to begin with so I really had to do a lot of research and actually think hard about a process for finding a workable solution. This is really when I decided that it was important for me to actually start listening and watching the news so I am not completely oblivious to what is going on in our country and the world.

I very much enjoyed writing about my virtues during week ten. I have never sat down and really thought about what “rules” to set for myself. Since doing this I have started to see a difference in the way I think and speak about others. I am also trying harder to be more appreciative of people and things that I see in everyday life. I have found that before setting this goal for myself I was very negative and judgmental and did not realize it. Doing this list has also made me more aware of people that are surrounding me. I have always tended to trust people too quickly and more than I should. Doing this has made me realize that not everyone is good. I have always liked the fact that I can see the good in everyone but at the same time I did not like being walked over.

Week 12 was another great week for me in this class. I really enjoyed looking into my faith, because I have not really thought about it in a few years. I knew that it has always been there, but I had just had not sat down and thought about it in many years. My profession of belief was a great way for me to express what I think and how I feel about faith. This week also made me realize that I have not been as `close to God as I should have been in a few years. It is very important to me to find a church that I feel comfortable going to so that I can work on practicing my faith more than I do now.

Week fourteen I really enjoyed because I was able to write about how my Thanksgiving was. Every holiday for me is absolutely crazy because I have four different holiday family events to attend, and we have to travel as well. I would not change these events because I get a chance to spend time with everyone and I love being with everyone. This particular holiday however, I paid special attention on what exactly we did though so I could write for my discussion board (please look at Erin Edwards response). Every single year I dread having Thanksgiving and Christmas with my mother’s side of the family, but usually I am happy I was able to see them after the fact because it is never as bad as I think it is going to be.

One issue I have found is that I need to not procrastinate as much as I do. I usually wait until about Wednesday before I start which means that I am always in a rush to do all the readings assigned and finish all the assignments. If I started earlier I feel like I would have more time to focus and think about what to write about more.

This class has really helped me manage my time better. It has made me have to take time out of my own schedule to focus on school work. This class has also helped me broaden my horizons for thinking and has shown me that I need to start watching/ reading the news so I know more about our great country. This class has really made me have to think a lot more than other classes, because it has made me think in different ways. I am very happy that I took the chance on taking an internet class. As I stated, it has really made me take time out of my own schedule to focus on school work. This class has also let me work at my own pace which is very important for me. I very much enjoyed talking this class that I have signed up for another internet class next semester.

The only downfall for me with this class is that it has been very writing intensive. At the same time however, it has been very beneficial. As I have stated throughout this entire paper it has helped me work on my writing because I have never been very confident with writing at all. I feel that this class has really helped me to improve on the overall flow of my writing. It has made it easier for me to actually come up with things to say! It used to be such a task for me to write about anything, but now I feel like I can sit down and once I get started sometimes I do not want to stop.

All in all I have really enjoyed this class and the writings and authors that have been introduce to us. As I stated, I really see that this class has made me break out of my shell, and write about things that I never thought about and about things that did not really interest me. This class has made me realize that I need to be more informed in what is going on in the world. I am glad that I have been challenged in a different way. I do not do well at math so this challenge it a good different. This class makes me want to do better with the writing assignments and makes me want to grow.Another favorite part of this class was the fact that we were able to incorporate history into how we feel. I have a certain passion for history, so everything we went over I really enjoyed. I greatly appreciate everything