When first entering this class I was not expecting much, just read a couple books, write a few papers, similar to any other English class I have taken through high school and my first three years of college. I was taking it simply because it is necessary in order for me to graduate. I imagined listening to a boring professor speak about Hamlet while I was staring at the clock half asleep waiting for the class to end. This English 102 class was very far from what I imagined, easily ending up as my favorite class this semester. It all starts with Professor Brady who came to class everyday with the same high energy and eagerness to teach not one day did she have low. Through her energy you could see the true passion she had for teaching this class. She encouraged us to think critically and engage ourselves in everyday class discussions while challenging us with our writing. The overall atmosphere she set in the classroom was what made the class so enjoyable.
This was a very open and inviting class, with everyone participating in each lecture, fishbowl, or discussion panel. The floor was always open and everyone was comfortable saying something at any point they desired. In every other class I have taken this semester I have sat in a desk and listened to a professor lecture for an hour, not saying one word. I could proudly say that I had participated in every single one of my English 102 classes this semester. Questions were always invited and answered from things on topic to things far from it. We covered a wide variety of topics in such a minimal amount of time but the knowledge I gained from each lesson was tremendous. It would have been enjoyable to receive the full effect of the class but nature does not care as we have learned.
The most significant thing I will take away from this class is my overall growth as a writer. Upon taking this class I dreaded writing papers, there was literally nothing I disliked more. These assignments however sparked something inside of me and I found true enjoyment in writing them. They forced me as a writer to truly dig deep and think about the topic rather than just sit and Google something, it was my personal interpretation. We had a lot of freedom in writing the papers as well as the published writing assignments which allowed me to really become attached because I was writing about something that I wanted to. The published writing assignments allowed us to interact with our classmates and showoff our work; it was something I have not done in any prior classes. I liked the openness it brought showing how other people interpreted your work opening your eyes to things you may not have realized. Overall this class was the best class I have taken since being in college at SUNY Farmingdale or Dowling and would recommend this class to anyone.