Letters

Mid-Term Reflective Letter

Dear Marlen,

When you initially warned all of us about this class being a lot of work, you were not kidding.  I had Professor Laurel Black for English 101, and she was a lot of work as well.  But this class is a lot more research and a lot more sitting down at a computer than that class was.  So in this letter I am going to tell you what I think of it all, the good and the bad.

First I will start out with the bad to get it over with.  This class is so much work, jesus lord almighty.  While I completely respect your idea that this should be my most important class, I wish sometimes that you would know that it can’t always be.  You are a professor though, and I totally understand why you have that mentality.  But I am a nursing major, and am taking Health Assessment and Microbiology along with having a clinical; all of these require a lot of free time to manage studying in.  This class severely cuts into my free time.  I refuse to flat-out complain about this, and I assume you have heard all of it already a thousand times because this class is known for its workload.  However, I am apologizing ahead of time if some assignments are wonderful and well-thought and researched, and others are poor and seem half-ass.  Because it is likely that while I want to work on what you have assigned, I had a microbiology test the next day (similar to my situation tonight in fact, lol) and found it difficult to find the time to outline four chapters, study those four chapters, and then complete a blog and a reflective letter in the span of a couple days.  I love this class, truly and completely and am excited to walk in the door every single day.  It is my favorite class to participate in, and generally my favorite class to be in this semester, possibly so far in my college career.  However, I am trying to balance so much and classes that do not pertain absolutely linearly with my major do not always take precedence; and I am sorry for that.  This isn’t me copping out.  I do know that there are times that I have a lot more in me, but unfortunately I use that little extra for other subjects.  I really am sorry about that, because you are constantly asking for 110%.

Next!  While the homework is time-consuming, they really do teach me a lot.  I love the idea to force us to go out and get the information ourselves; it definitely helps us retain what we found for future use a lot better than having a book would.  I love that this class didn’t cost me anything book wise!  Thanks buddy!  Also the blogging homework, or blogging in general, is something new for me.  You are expanding my internet knowledge!  I had no clue how to use, view, even describe what a blog really was until this class.  My internet avenues stop at e-mail and Facebook.  This class has made me more technologically savvy.

Another thing that I love about this class is the discussion we have.  I adore the way you talk to us.  I cannot speak for everyone when I say this, but when you talk to me you speak as if I am an equal.  This allows me to open up more to you on my ideas and passions.  It definitely helps discussion flow better because I don’t feel like I am talking to a teacher, I feel like I am talking to a buddy.  I think students are more likely to open up to their friends than their superiors, so I really like what you have done in this respect.  Whether it is on purpose or not, your swearing tendencies and casual demeanor has made me more likely to speak up.  The first day, I was totally silent.  Now, I think I may annoy people. (lol)

In conclusion, I really love this class!  I love my group, and the ideas we pass around.  I enjoy the fact that in some respects we have gotten to know one another, and are more comfortable to speak our minds because of this familiarity.  The fact that you take the time to get to know us all uniquely is something else I really like about this class.  So, to wrap it up, sometimes I hate you because you make this so much work.  But most of the time I love you, because it’s the one class I don’t check my watch every five minutes waiting for it to end.

Sincerely,

Heather Campbell