Well, another crazy, busy, amazing week at Converse; another blog to write.

It’s surprisingly difficult for me to pick out the single most effective in-class learning experience. Being the dork that I am, I’ve always loved learning, so it’s had to pick out one instance. However, the most difficult, and motivating, experience would definitely have to be my 11th grade physics class.

I am not a “math person” or a real “science person,” but I’ve always been able to sneak by with, at worst a low A or high B. I think this is mainly due to my advanced and much cultivated cramming skills. In most of my more technical classes, I could get the basic concept on the night before the test, use it just enough to get through a set of equations or experiments, and then file the information away in the dark recesses of my mind, never to see the light of conscious thought again. Physics was different- I was one of only 3 juniors taking the course. The rest of the students were highly gifted seniors with the top GPAs in their grades. I may not be brilliant, but I had never before felt like the dumbest one in the class. After the first week, I realized I couldn’t sneak by with a casual understanding anymore; I had to actually know what was going on. Needless to say, the feeling of competition with the students around me acted as the best in-class motivator I’ve ever had.

This, I believe, is very similar to the academic environment at Converse. There’s a real sense of competition with my fellow Panthers and Devils. In the short time I’ve been here, it’s been obvious that these women are smart, they’re talented, and if I’m going to get the best out of this experience, I have to do my best everyday. No more sneaking by in college!

My most influential- and effective- out of class learning experience was not so much about competing with any one else for grades or knowledge. Instead, my experiences with my high school’s drama department taught me by pitting me against my own personal boundaries. It’s often very hard for me to come out of my shell around others, but through the friendships I made in my theatre group, I learned to trust myself, and to go after new experiences. Even if it was uncomfortable at times, I realized that I could handle much more than I would have originally thought.

I think the non-scholarly lessons from drama will serve me best at Converse if I remember to always push myself beyond my personal limits. No matter how difficult that may seem.