Welcome to this week's blog -
The Final Exam and The Final Blog Post
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At the beginning of this semester, I had no idea what to expect from my FYE class. I imagined the class to be boring and pointless; I considered it a class that I had to complete simply to fulfill a requirement. During the first week of classes, my fixed mindset changed completely. My first blog post that was published on August 24th states, "Although we spent little time in class, I feel more connected to this group of peers and to Taylor and Dra. McGrath than any other class group I have encountered this week. Being surrounded by a small, motivated group of people allows discussions to occur more easily, and it helps connections happen more frequently (1)." Little did I know that I would establish an even stronger connection to this amazing group of people. Throughout this semester, I have learned an overwhelming amount of information in FYE. This class has pushed more growth in my life than any other class I have taken not only at Georgia Southern but also at my former high school. FYE allowed me to take part in real, meaningful discussions that I never knew I needed. I am thankful for the lessons I have learned and the people I have met in this class - FYE was a positive experience that I will remember many years down the road.
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As an FYE requirement, my classmates and I were required to attend at least two Success Series events. The first event that I attended, Growth Mindset with Trevor Ragan, was one that made an impact on my academic life. I knew about the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset before attending this event, but I had few details about how the different mindsets can truly affect an individual. The presentation that Ragan gave showed me that I have to be willing to open my mind to learning new information without shutting down the moment I become discouraged.
Concerning this topic, I was definitely put to the test this year with my economics class. I have struggled with economics this entire semester, and I even considered dropping the class. However, I managed to pull through by relying on a growth mindset. Finals week will be the ultimate test of my skills, as my final exam will most likely determine whether or not I receive an A in the class.
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In FYE, our class also discussed the meaning of a growth mindset. So while I was learning about a growth mindset outside of the classroom, I was also learning about the same topic inside of the classroom. On September 4th, I posted the following information on my blog: "On Wednesday, I attended the Growth Mindset Series with speaker Trevor Ragan. I actually really enjoyed the presentation. I have heard about the difference between growth mindset (the belief that the brain has the ability to grow) and fixed mindset (the belief that the brain can only use the tools it already has) before the event. However, I learned a lot more detailed information about the importance of a growth mindset. In class on Wednesday, we discussed the ideas behind a growth mindset as well. Basically, I have been learning about a growth mindset all week, and I am not mad about it (2)." On September 15th, Matthew also commented on his blog about this topic. He said, "What I found most interesting about it was that our brains simply reroute connections to generate new ways of thinking and storing memory. Because of our neuroplasticity, we mentally change over time such as our thought process or analytical skills, viewpoints and short and long-term memory (3)." Learning in-depth information about a growth mindset and a fixed mindset created a strong impact on my academic life during this semester.
The second topic that impacted me during this semester was our required book,
Make Your Home Among Strangers. The book itself did not impact me; I did not enjoy it. However, after Crucet's visit to the school, I learned meaningful information and had powerful discussions with my peers. These moments are what impacted me the most. I have grown up my entire life at a small, private school located in a small town. While I would not change anything about where I grew up, I have definitely been less exposed to people who have different backgrounds than I do. For example, my roommate who is from the Atlanta area is quite different than I am; I have noticed the differences between her family and mine, and the subtle differences are quite interesting. Although we have differences, both of us are in the same close friend group. While this example does not exhibit a drastic difference in our lives, it is an example that even powerful discussions can impact the smallest of events.
The speech that Crucet gave definitely stirred controversy amongst the student body at Georgia Southern. However, I am glad that I was able to have meaningful discussions with my peers in FYE. Before this class, I do not think that I ever truly wrapped my mind around the term white privilege. I do think that there is a negative connotation and misunderstanding with the word privilege in this sense. Many people set up a barrier when they hear this term because they take offense to it without truly knowing the meaning. Of course, the meaning has also become distorted, but I am glad that I was given the opportunity to learn about this topic with my peers. This is one topic that I was unaware of its true meaning before FYE. On my October 17th blog post, I said, "I do not know how to fix the issue or if it can ever truly be fixed. But I do know that the first step in solving the problem is first becoming aware of it (4)." I am thankful that I now know how to approach difficult topics like these without setting up a defensive barrier separating myself from what needs to be heard.
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When I was reading the blog posts regarding the topic of diversity and inclusion, I came across an eye-opening comment from Tonilynn. On October 19th, she posted, "Something I've always noticed is that in a discussion about race and POC versus whites, people always fail to include Asians in this conversation. This doesn't necessarily hurt my feelings, but it is always shocking and I guess a little upsetting. With Asians being the fastest-growing race population in the United States, you would think they would be included in these conversations more often, but to my dismay, they are always either a side note or not even mentioned at all. Although they may not face as many pressing issues as other minorities do, they do face many issues of their own and it is important to include them in the conversation as well (5)." I am glad that Tonilynn brought this issue to others' attention in her blog.
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Overall, I have learned much valuable information in FYE. I have learned to break down stereotypes and to engage in important conversations with people. I have developed a growth mindset, and I have made valuable connections with Dra., Taylor, and my classmates. I am thankful that I could have such meaningful discussions with my peers, and I value their insight. Next semester without this class is going to be tough. To end this blog post, I would like to mention a quote from my past blog on November 30th - "It is hard to think about not having FYE next semester; I will miss all of the fun, interactive classes with my fellow classmates, Taylor, and Dra. I am very thankful to have been a part of this special FYE group (6)." Thank you for a wonderful first semester!
Resources:
(1) https://blogginthroughcollege.blogspot.com/2019/08/week-one.html
(2) https://blogginthroughcollege.blogspot.com/2019/09/week-four.html
(3) https://matthewahonorsfye.blogspot.com/2019/09/week-4-growth-mindset-academic-basics.html
(4) https://blogginthroughcollege.blogspot.com/2019/10/week-nine.html
(5) https://tonilynnholtz.blogspot.com/2019/10/week-9-diversity-inclusion-iv.html
(6) https://blogginthroughcollege.blogspot.com/2019/11/week-thirteen.html
(7) https://images.app.goo.gl/SGAWC5WDaLFMJuY88
(8) https://images.app.goo.gl/kCtPWEcBY97Z7QBJ7
(9) https://images.app.goo.gl/xJcEX6VygZQoU1xQ7
(10) https://images.app.goo.gl/eGDPuMJL1YgzGX3D6
(11) https://images.app.goo.gl/fdM3jrx5G42Pko6z7
