College 105 is a course in which students learn study skills, cooperation, and self-discipline. Students are asked to inflect on their own habits, both good and bad, and learn what to embrace, improve, and otherwise change. Students learn valuable skills for dealing with difficult situations, mainly pertaining to school but also to life outside of the classroom. Thirty one journals that involve self-analysis are due in incriments throughout the semester. A diversity workshop is mandatory as well as two other campus events.
Diversity Workshop:
The diversity workshop began with the teachers introducing themselves. Then everyone else introduced themselves. Each person told their name and favorite band. The teachers then called out different groups such as male, female, christian, athiest, new age, black, white, glbt or friend or relative of glbt, children of addicts, etc. As each group stood, they were applauded. We then got into small groups and told each other to which groups we belonged. We changed small groups and picked a group (race, gender, etc) to repeat in different tones, voices, and levels so the other groupmember could say the first word that came to mind. For example one person would say "white" and the partner would say "pushy" or "nice" or "ignorant" or whatever came to mind. We got into groups of two one more time to tell our partners about things we liked and disliked about a group to which we belong from an outsiders point of view. For example I spoke about white people and Randy spoke to me about military people. Then we had our papers signed and we left.
Reflection on Diversity Workshop:
I really enjoyed the diversity workshop and learned a lot about other people. It really made me feel comfortable to know there are so many other different kinds of people out there, especially around campus, and that everyone feels the same kinds of anxieties I do about being different. I learned to try to curb my prejudices, and that there were prejudices and beliefs which I had of which I was not previously aware. This workshop was basically the first time I outright stated my agnosticism, which was a strange, new event for me. I thought it was really cool to find out that the teacher was of a New Age religion. It felt really nice to be applauded during the stand up exercise. I stood for whites, women, daughters, vegetarians, and athiests/agnostics. Also, I stood for the group of friends and relatives of GLBT's, and was shocked to see how few people had gay and lesbian friends and relatives. Ever since I was in middle school I have had many best friends who talked to me about their feelings of being gay and lesbian, so to me it was a normal thing. These were friends (guys and gals) with whom I held hands, spent the night, and hung out regularly throughout middle and high school just like normal friends do. Seeing that it wasn't just as normal a thing to everyone else saddened me a bit. I did, however, have a great time and met some really cool people. I even made friends with another agnostic girl from my History class!
Poetry Cafe:
When I entered the poetry cafe there was a room full of people. The teacher asked if anyone brought any poetry to read. Even though I had, I didn't raise my hand. One girl read a poem she wrote when she was 14. The teacher had a young guy read a poem that the teacher himself had written and had published. Then he asked who had a favorite poem. I raised my hand and said, "Annabel Lee, by Edgar Allen Poe." So Teen Angst poem girl pulled up Annabel Lee on his computer and I read it. I then admitted that I had some personal poetry to read. I then read two poems, one called "Chamber" and another called "Defeat". He then talked to us some more about poetry, what it is and what it means. We then were given a code for extra credit and were let go.
Reflection on the Poetry Cafe:
I really felt that I gained a lot from the poetry cafe. I have been writing poetry now for a while to deal with a hard situation for which I'm receiving counseling. I have been wanting to read my poetry and thought this would be the perfect opportunity. I was so scared when no one else seemed to have brought anything. I knew, though, that if I didn't take the chance that day that I would really regret it later for having given up the chance. It was really hard to read and at one point I started to cry. But I got some really great feedback from the teacher, who was really encouraging. I learned that I've got more courage than I thought I did, and it was very empowering to get my thoughts out, to release them and kind of let them permeate people's minds, stir people up a bit. One girl later told me she was impressed. Impressing people wasn't really what I was going for but it was still quite a compliment.
