BLOG POST #7-Reflection on the Course

The past eight weeks have been quite the journey. I have learned more than I ever anticipated or thought myself capable of. I was surprised at the number of learning outcomes from analyzing and learning the difference between summary and analysis, interpreting poetry and learning to read between the lines, to overcoming the technical challenges of blogs, videos and submissions. In life, I will forever have to write in varying degrees, whether it is in my personal day to day living, or in my work environment of nursing. I do feel better equipped.

I thoroughly enjoyed the readings. I have always had a fascination about the Vietnam War, I guess because during this time, I was a preteen who only got bits and pieces of information, and was always curious to know the whole story. Growing up, it seemed no one wanted to talk about it. I feel like my eyes have been opened to Vietnam, war in general, and the mind-set of a soldier.

In terms of the learning outcomes, I feel I touched on all of them, conquering some better than others, and some were just plain a challenge to the very end! Organizational strategies were difficult and have always been a challenge for me. This challenge made starting my essay difficult because I wasn’t sure HOW to start. I did write my essay, so I did conquer this outcome, but not without experiencing every emotion imaginable! This is where I appreciated how Ms. Cline always made herself available whether in her office, by Skype or by email, returning emails promptly.

My writing has changed in that I realize how important it is to communicate in writing in a clear, concise way. This usually means many rewrites which I’ve come to realize is normal. I’ve learned that writing is a process that takes time in order to pull your thoughts out of your head effectively, unlike, say, solving a mathematical equation that is cut and dry.

One of the most challenging assignments was response to two poems. This assignment taught me to read, re-read, then re-read again. Analyzing poetry when the poem is abstract is like cracking a code. Once you crack it, you can see everything inside that was hidden before. Another huge challenge was the technical aspect of the class. Having very limited computer experience, made what would be a simple task for some, completely frustrating for me. Figuring out these tasks sometimes took longer than the assignment! Of course, time was always my enemy, with my work schedule and the fast pace of the class.

I’m glad I persevered! I feel a sense of accomplishment at attaining new writing skills that I will use throughout my life. Now, it’s time for a vacation before I start the nursing program!