Wednesday, April 25, 2012

500 Level Class ... as a Freshman | Bethany Cluff



I’ve always been slightly an overachiever. As in, the queen of juggling things – school, music, art, friends, parties, cooking, reading, and writing – the list goes on. So, after taking an easy winter quarter, I thought that maybe this quarter I should push myself a little harder. And, boy, do I already feel it. 
I’m an English major, which opens up a lot of class options for me in my major area. My friend was going to take a Shakespeare course, and he convinced me to do it as well. And, so cut to the first day of my 520 Shakespeare class, me sitting there extremely intimidated, surrounded by upper-class English majors with a plethora of paper-writing underneath their belts, afraid that they could instantly see that I didn’t belong.
Well, honestly, that was all in my head. As soon as the professor walked in, there was a shift in the atmosphere – a positive one. Someone told me that many times, the course number is arbitrary, and though the class content is definitely higher-level (I mean, it’s Shakespeare), the way it’s taught and the atmosphere of the class itself is completely worth it. I really enjoy the class, because I know that it will vastly improve my writing and analysis skills, and it will give me a taste of my other upper-level classes (as well as make me appreciate lower-level classes too).  So, if you decided to ever take an upper-level class, even if part of you feel a little unprepared – don’t fret. Just make sure you’re taking it because the course matter is very interesting to you, that you research and find out how the professor works, and that you enjoy it and appreciate the class, because a positive mental attitude really makes things easier. 
               by Bethany Cluff

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