Thank you, Freespeechprof!

Wow! What an amazing class this was, always reminding me of the tenuous thread between free speech (what we can express) and ethical responsibility (what we should express). With a passionate, committed professor at the helm, we are all invited to explore complicated issues and be more fully ourselves.

Thank you, Freespeechprof, for facilitating such a rich, diverse learning environment, always keeping the topics interesting and relevant through a variety of media: historical documents, photos, films, the Internet, books, blogging, seminar presentations, and audio recording of great speeches and protest songs of the 60s.

Thank you also for giving us ample opportunity to teach and learn from each other. So many times in this class, I felt strongly in my position (pornography, controversial art, hate speech) but gained a deeper understanding of the complexity of the issues through our class discussions and seminars. Furthermore, the seminar presentations were all insightful and interesting. I think we all did a stellar job.

Thank you for giving us room to ask difficult questions of ourselves and others. Thank you for making the class a safe place in which to adamantly and respectfully disagree. I will miss this class, the controversial topics and discussions, my thoughtful classmates, and our amazing teacher. Have an inspired and restful summer!

Mixed feelings about semester's end

It seems strange to me to have mixed feelings about the last couple weeks of the semester, but I do! Most people are likely ecstatic being so close to finishing the semester or, in some cases, graduating from their college careers altogether. I feel mixed because my classes are stimulating, challenging, and diverse in students. I thoroughly enjoy seminaring, workshopping, and debating with my peers! I am fortunate also to have such caring and passionate professors whose classes I look forward to each week.

Another part of me jumps up and down when I realize I won't have homework for three months, although I best get most, if not all, of my capstone's creative work done this summer in preparation for my final semester at CSUMB (see, even writing this is bittersweet). Now, of course, I have to think seriously about graduate schools. But when I think about how far I've come in my education, the commitment my supportive partner and I have made, I fill with pride at my accomplishments. It's been a long road, and I'm happy to be moving along on it!