Live and Learn

I find it odd that I am sad about a class ending, but when it comes to my UW class, I am going to miss it a lot! It was an amazing class, amazing material, and an amazing professor. I feel that who is in a class really makes the class, when you enjoy the people you are around and when you feel comfortable sharing ideas and constructive criticism that is a good level to be at with people. We really helped each other grow, and I have made such great friends. It’s not everyday you get placed in a writing pod and you take a nap and spoon after the first project. (Long story, lets just say I am madly in love with my writing pod girls, Kat and Lindsay) As for the material, I found some things to be boring, but when it all culminated together at the end I truly feel that this class was a wonderful addition to my course load. And I really think it speaks highly of a class when a person (that’s me!) falls in love with their research paper and goes through withdrawal once it’s over (my current state.) I seriously think I need help because all I want to do is continue to research Ellen and find out more to add to my research. I mean for a good month I would eat, sleep, and breathe Ellen… I was literally obsessed with my paper. Like I said I think that speaks very highly of a class. It also speaks highly of the professor. (I’m going to make the assumption that she will read this after my grade is finalized, so… don’t call me a brown-noser, losers.) I honestly feel that Dr. Caroline Smith is one of the most amazing professors that I have come across in all my years (I know I’m young but that’s still a compliment… seeing as one of my best friends is a teacher… I love to connect with professors and I love creating friendships) CJS (we nicknamed her) is the perfect balance of funny and let’s get shit done, and she does everything without belittling us. I truly respect her and she has helped my writing EMENSELY! I feel so comfortable now going into my other classes and writing papers…. I have less stress, I feel as though I can prepare myself better, and I just have an overwhelming sense of power when writing now. When she reads this she may think it’s weird, but I would totally be friends with CJS in real life… she is so cool and down to earth, I am so glad that I was able to learn from her this year, she was truly amazing!

As I stated before, I feel SO much more comfortable with my writing. Also, CJS helped me conquer an issue that has caused me problems for years… controlling my voice. So I am very excited about that! And… now I am ready to write my memoir! I CAN’T WAIT!!

UW officially rocks. If I could major in UW I would… hmmm? I’ll think on that. Ok, well, this may be my last blog… sad. No it won’t. I’ll be back. We’ll do an “Adventures in Babysitting” series over the summer when I start my job where I play with kids and take them around DC! (Who in their right mind gave me this job… I’m banking on that fact that at least half of the kids are more mature than me…)

Well kids, it’s been fun!

Oh! PS. I am mailing my paper to Ellen with a letter attached saying that we should be BFF’s… so watch for me on her show… how great would that be? Trust me, I’ve had dreams about it… (Like I said: eat, SLEEP, and breathe… and I eat Ellen O’s… they are like cheerios, quite tasty and gluten free!) Ok, bye.

Symposium = Good Times

So today we had our writing symposium, and it was surprisingly nice. Our professor was the one that put the whole shindig on, and she did a great job --- I think it was a big success.

I have become mildly obsessed with my class lately, so it was great to hang out with them -- we even proposed to have a class bowling trip, how cute are we? I was really impressed by how we all pulled our things together, and I think we impressed our audience. I most enjoyed sitting at my post looking at my fellow classmates talking to their audience. Everyone was SO into it, and was so excited to tell someone else about their topic. I think that speaks highly of our class, our professor, and our selves for pickinging topics that really strike our core.

Aside from our class being amazing, I really enjoyed the feedback I recieved. I was given great ideas that I can tie into my paper, and as I talked about my issue it really solidified my thesis and gave me great ideas to take with me in revising my paper. All in all today was a great and very productive day!

**Regarding the other presentation I went to, it was very interesting, and (although at first I thought it was lame the our professor was making us see another one) I enjoyed it and learned from it. Most of all I was glad I was a part of the symposium, and I was really glad our whole class decided to do this together!

Straight Up and WHA?

So in my UW class we basically learn to read and write well, two of the most important skills in life. We’ve read your basic works… Sylvia Plath, Santha Rama Rau, Audre Lorde, and just recently we moved on to Stephanie Klein… WHAT? Her sassy memoir, Straight Up and Dirty, kind of came out of nowhere. While I am not even close to complaining… I just think this proves how broad the spectrum can be when discussing autobiographies and memoirs… everything from depressing poetry about a lost love to slutty language about an Ex-fuck.

So, what do I think about Straight Up and Dirty and Ms. Kline? Well… I love her sassy way of life and how she LITERALLY created a tell-all book. She’s not hiding anything, and I like that about her. However, I am also one of the most innocent, naïve girls that this world has seen… so, let’s just say I have learned… quite a bit from Ms. Stephanie. As previously stated, I really do enjoy her honesty, and it is definitely a book that I will gladly read as opposed to prying my eyelids open with clamps as with some of our other readings in class.

While I am only a chapter into it, I am noticing that her bluntness and openness has almost caused me to lack sympathy for her, and I’m not quite sure why that is. Maybe as the book goes on I will start to feel for her… but right now she just seems like a slutty mess of a relationship. However this is only in terms of my standards of a woman – others may very well see her as a charming individual.

Maybe once I read more (and get past giggling whenever she talks about sex) I will appreciate her strength for coming out to the world with no walls – telling her story for what it is. We will see Miss Klein… as for now you are quite entertaining and I have learned more from you than I have from Cosmo. ☺