Ducks @ Oregon - University of Oregon

Fall term in review

Katie D.

December 26, 2009 - 4:40 PM

What a fabulous term it was! Senior year could not have begun in a more wonderful way. I had the fabulous luck to land a series of new and wonderful opportunities, and had a great line up of coursework. Here's the run-down on Fall Term essentials:

Classes:

Comparative Literature 301: Introduction to Literary Theory with Professor Katy Brundan

I honestly wasn't thrilled about this class when I signed up for it. It's a requirement for COLT majors, and I thought it would be a step back from my 400 level seminar courses. But instead of being an awkward group of forty or more, we developed into a group that managed to dig deeply into the theoretical texts at hand. We spent part of every class divided up into small groups, and I managed to find a set of three or four other students who were much more anxious to discuss Freud and Kristeva than they were to talk about the previous night's football game (if you've read my other blogs, you'll already know that this is a major plus for me). Aside from the class dynamic, I truly appreciated the opportunity to read over some of the foundational theories in literary criticism. I found this background essential in my more-advanced coursework, and also encountered new theories I could apply to the living of daily life. We studied Orientalism and feminism, theories of film-making and psychoanalysis. Professor Brundan is a wonderful classroom facilitator, and her enthusiasm made a big difference in my appreciation of the course.

Comparative Literature 415: Capstone Seminar with Professor Ken Calhoon

This was a tiny seminar course, designed to provide senior COLT students with an opportunity to interact with a variety of texts on an advanced level, to facilitate discussion with other advanced students, and to begin the process of thesis writing for those students pursuing honors in Comparative Literature. The other students in the class were phenomenal, and many of the texts were exceptional. However, I found the overall course to be relatively awkward, without enough emphasis on dialogue, and with little student direction in the overall experience. The best part of the class was the final paper, which I wrote on Trash and the Latin American migrant's experience on the US/Mexico border. I had the opportunity to discuss some of my experiences on the border, and to include photos I had taken there as "texts" which I evaluated.

Spanish 490: Chilean Literature with Pedro Garcia-Caro

I loved this class. I love reading literature in Spanish, and have a deep connection with Chilean literature and culture since my travels there more than a year ago. One of my best friends was with me in the class, and that meant that discussion of the literature could extend beyond the classroom, which is something I love. The professor was also fabulous, encouraging us to bring advanced theoretical techniques into play while stumbling through a second language. I was challenged to improve both my linguistic skills and theoretical understanding by this class.

Then there was my employment:

Teacher's Assistant for Honors College course Global Energy Generation with Greg Bothun

I have already blogged on this experience, but let me reiterate that working as a teacher's assistant for this course was both challenging and exhilarating. I loved the different percpective of the course, and I even liked the difficult parts, like the grading and the preparation for presentations. This was one of the best things I did with my busy Fall Term.

Blogging:

Once again, I found that my work as a blogger led me to become more connected to the opportunities and activities which surrounded me here at the UO. I feel like I have become a better writer in the last year, and my love of blogging increases daily. Additionally, the Annual Giving Program featured my Duck Story in their monthly alumni newsletter, post card, and even a short video! I was honored by their decision to spread my stories, and found the work of participating in a video to be a difficult but exciting new experience.

My work as a volunteer:

Returning to Volunteers in Medicine this year was a wonderful experience. I feel so valued and welcomed by the staff and clients there. My Spanish skills benefit from the constant practice, and I find the work to be highly satisfying. Working as a translator has given me the added perspective of the brokenness of our health care system: so many people have serious needs that often fall through the cracks. That Volunteers in Medicine is such a high-quality facility is a tribute to the dedication of many talented and driven individuals. I feel privileged to have been a part of their work for so long.

My Internship:

Working with the Honors College and the Inside-Out Program has been one joyful experience after another. I have learned so much about prison education, about working for change within complex systems, and about the power of enthusiasm to create change. I arrived at this position at the perfect moment to effect change. I also have the continuing opportunity to work with campus peacemakers and those working for social justice at the community and global scale.

Extra activities:

This term was so crowded! Rock climbing, activism, the climate change event Power Shift, the speaking events, and the energy present on campus meant that I was constantly running from one thing to another. The longer I spend on campus, the more I realize that this is a vibrant center of change and learning in the world. I am so grateful to be in a place where boredom is never even an option, much less a threat.

Additionally, I had a fabulous term with friends. I love my new roommates, and am constantly grateful for the home I have in Eugene. My group of eight friends, who were relatively exclusive my freshman year, has expanded to include many new faces. We have spent many evenings doing nothing but talking and laughing together.

Overall:

This was a wonderful term. I cannot believe that my senior year is already a third of the way through! I am so happy to be living in Oregon, and so happy with all my activities and plans. I can only hope that the rest of the school year lives up to this beginning.