I'm going to jump right into today's lecture, due to my extremely tight schedule. I want to inform you my blog today will be relatively short. Our final is tomorrow, and I have so very much to do in preparation. I will, however, provide a full report for you all tomorrow!
Today, was our FINAL LECTURE. I can't believe we've been here for three weeks already. Our very last lecture with Professor K was on...
RACE AND EQUALITY.
I. The Historical Background
II. "Separatism" and "Integrationism"
III. Martin Luther King: Love & Justice (1929 - 1968)
IV. Malcolm X: Nationalism and the "Strategic Dilemma" (1905 - 1965)
With today's lecture, we came full circle from our first discussion on Christ and the New Testament. There's a lot of "lasts" this week, and it's rather depressing!
On a positive note, our TA Des decided to reward his students for their hard work these past three weeks with a variety of cookies and juice. It was a nice, thoughtful surprise, and a wonderful addition to our FINAL DISCUSSION SECTION. At times, Des was so abstract beyond my understanding. It was sometimes frustrating because I felt like it was impossible to follow along with his graduate level thinking and so completely out there ideas. But I realized that he pushed me every single day. His opinions were always drastically different from what I'd think, and in that way I was constantly outside my comfort zone. But I was also exposed to such a unique way of thinking, I know I'm walking away with an entirely altered thought process and outlook. I learned to cease being so one-dimensional and narrow minded and instead always push my mind to look at all sides of a situation.
Sometimes being uncomfortable is a good thing. New experiences are scary, but at the same exact time eye-opening and beautiful. That's exactly what this experience has been for me - eye-opening and BEAUTIFUL. I have loved every minute of my journey with the ILC, and I know the termination of this program does not in any way hint to the end of my gratitude towards all those who made my stay at Cornell possible. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. These past three weeks have, undoubtedly, been the most influential, life-changing days of my entire life. I feel like I have grown so much. And I have the ILC to thank for that. (:
Well, my dear readers. I must depart and attend to my final preparations before tomorrow. Wish me luck! I hope to make you all proud.
Take care!
- xoxo, Julia.
Julia,
ReplyDeleteAnyone who thanks me three times in just one sentence deserves some extra recognition. On behalf of those of us you left behind that have helped in some small way to give you this opportunity I will just say YOU’RE WELCOME, YOU’RE WELCOME, YOU’RE WELCOME.
I’ve had the chance to read a couple of these blogs and I’ve seen a recurring theme when it comes to your prof and your TA: they seem to be doing a pretty fair job and you’ve all benefitted from being around them. Just reading those comments has made me feel pretty good about all of this.
I don’t think any of you have to worry, Julia, about making us proud. You’d have to screw up pretty badly to change our opinions of you at this late date.