Self Evaluation and Reflection

 reflecting on where you were when we began this process, where you are now, and what’s been happening in between. How-and-what have you been learning? Where do you think that the edges of your learning now lie? In what ways has your understanding of identity, of environment, and of the reciprocal relationship between them been expanded, challenged, or complexified? In what ways have you been resisting such learning?

Our Changing Our Stories, Shifting Our Identities, and Altering Our Environments ESEM is a class that I ended up enjoying so much more than I thought I would. Back in the summer, I distinctly remember meticulously reading through all the ESEM choices, trying to decide which would be the best for me. I was fully determined to take a class focused on social issues of race, inequality, and poverty that would help me become a stronger writer. I picked three that seemed to meet these goals. When I realized on the first day of class that our ESEM was about the intersection between identity and environment, I was a little disappointed. I could deal with the identity part – but environment?

I should have done more of the readings because then I would have been able to be more present where classmates where at, which was analyzing the previous night’s readings, which I did not always do. I also would have like to have completed more of the reading responses so my ideas and perspectives on texts could have been more wholistically incorporated into our shared understandings. I did not bring as much to myself to hear, listen, and grow with the group. I was often too distracted on my laptop and I did not pay enough attention to my peers and professors. I should have listened to understand and acquire a deeper perspective.

            “Ask me about my experience here,” Georgina responding to our weekly icebreaker questions. I was surprised at how often womyn spoke about such complex and personal issues. I felt so uncomfortable. Why was I there? I should not have the “white-savior complex” yet I have means and almost all of these womyn’s rights have been stripped away. I couldn't help but wonder about the stressful and dangerous atmosphere of prison. What violence was inflicted upone these womyn?

            How could we just talk when Caroline just told me a story about when she was “in-between” homes. How is it fair that all of her rights and sense of security is stripped away even if she “committed a crime?”

Elena Luedy

Professor Cohen

E-SEM

12/18/15

Self-Reflection/ Evaluation

            At the beginning of the semester, I was unsure of my writing, unsure of my classmates, and unsure of the professor. The transition to college was a big one, and I wasn’t 100% sure I was doing it right. I first warmed up to the class (including the professor), and later began to realize how exactly one was supposed to write an essay. In addition to the other classes I took this semester, I learned an incredible amount not only academically, but of myself as well. My classes connected well, learning about the beginning of human evolution, how the built environment affects the people that live in it, and how that shapes who we are today.

Sometimes I think back to the first day in ESEM. We were all so quiet and nervous. No one spoke, save forced commentary and nervous laughter. I was terrified to speak- enivronmentalism has never been my strongest point of knowledge and, furthermore, I'm always scared of saying the wrong thing. Fast forward to the end of the semester... obviously, you all know I couldn't shut up, but it was also greater than that. Going to ESEM became one of the most rejuvinating parts of my week. I looked forward to Tuesday and Thursday because I knew that no matter how much sleep I had (not) gotten or how stressed I was, I would be able to enter into an incredibly inspiring, comfortable zone. 

When I first began this course I was unsure of what to expect, even just based on the title of the class. I could not tell whether it was supposed to be more broadly environmental or more personal. As it turns out, this class was both. I really enjoyed the way this class made me think closely about my own identity but then also forced me to look greatly beyond myself to the world in which I live. Thinking about these sort of things has given me new perspective that I will continue to think about beyond this class.

             Among many options for Emily Balch Seminar, I chose the best three that interested me after collecting all the comments of upperclassmen on the class of 2019 Facebook group. And one of the comments said “Anne Dalke is one of the best professors I ever had. I don’t know if she would be teaching for the upcoming semester, but if she does, you should DEFINITELY take it.” Those capitalized letters unconsciously might have been imprinted on me, and “Chaning Our Story” taught by Anne was on my list without any further consideration.

Living With My Tongue Out