Unfortunately, due to lack of Internet last night, and an incredibly busy day today, it’s taken me too long to get this final (for now) blog entry posted.
Yesterday was my last day at Brown. It was my last for a lot of things:
Last time I would get chocolate croissants and peach ice tea with Erica before class.
Last time I would wake up, shower, and get ready in Harkness.
Last time I would go to class and be taught by Kisa, with the lovely My as the TA.
And most notably, the last time I’d see all my girls together.
These last two weeks were two of the most amazing weeks of my life. I met so many new people, learned so many new things, and had experiences that would last me a lifetime.
I’ve already got ironclad promises that should I visit India, Italy, or North Carolina that I would have a place to say, and the same goes for my girls if they ever come to California.
I didn’t cry yesterday, thank god, because I know if I saw even one person shed one single tear, I’d be inconsolable.
Despite my opinions on feminism, and the material we studied in the class, I do believe it really helped me grow as a person, especially in my ability to let other people voice their opinions, and to not be so defensive when I am criticized.
I also formally presented my Action Plan yesterday, which was not nearly as nerve wracking as I thought it would be. There were only about fifteen people in the room with me, and we were so cramped that we all ended up presenting sitting down, which really helped us all feel more comfortable.
It went well, and I made sure to videotape it so that my parents back home would be able to see it, too.
And even though I’m home now, and the feeling is bittersweet, I wouldn’t give it up for the world.
My deepest thanks to everyone in the ILC program, because without all of you, this wouldn’t be possible, and I am so glad I did it.
Mariana,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as though your positions on feminism may not have changed much after participating in this class. There’s nothing that says that your position needed changing, Mariana. You’re allowed, of course, to have opinions that vary from other people’s.
I’ve tried to impress upon our students that not only do they have the right to challenge the opinions of the instructors but they even have an obligation to do so if they can back up their opinions. When a student is in a class like a science class and they’re being told that the atomic weight on an element is a specific number, that’s a fact and beyond challenge. When they take a social science course, though, they’re often being taught theories and opinions and these can be challenged. Courses like these are meant to stir the mind and prompt questions and debate.
It’s a shame we can’t upload the video of your presentation. I’m betting that I’m not the only reader who’s interested in seeing these presentations.