English 121 Reflective Letter (Final)
Shannon K. McMeans
December 7, 2009
English Final Reflective Letter
Dear Marlen:
I first want to start out by thanking you for a semester of intense exploration of topics I would not have thought to study on my own. I respect and appreciate your great interest and passion for the topics you bring to the classroom. I took you this semester because I had you previously in the spring of 2009 and enjoyed your teaching methods. I go from class to class every day at IUP and I rarely make friends or even talk to that many other peers in the classroom. With your class, I have made more than one good friend, which I plan to keep contact with throughout my journey. I came into this class with not really any clue what our topics would be, and when I got the required text list became even more intrigued. The topic that has stood out the most to me has been the archetypes, and to a point, has helped me a lot with things I had to experience this semester. Of course, the heroic journey became very familiar to me, as for you these past few months.
At the beginning of the semester I was labeled as the caregiver. I agree with this completely, and I didn’t really realize how true it was of my character until I read over the summary and had it pin-pointed to me. All of the different archetypes were really interesting to read about, and as I met and got to know some of the other people in the class, I realized that their archetypes were also very true about their character as well.
When we started learning about the heroic journey, it didn’t really make much sense to me and I sort of had a sense of sarcasm towards it and that it only happened in fairy tales. Well can I just say, I was wrong, completely wrong. I actually got to personally experience a journey within the last few months with illnesses within my family. I guess you don’t really get the point of something this in depth until you actually experience it. It is funny but I actually have used information you have taught us this semester in my Intro Anthropology class.
For the final project we were to create a project that summarized our learning this semester on a specific topic. Courtney Nicole and myself decided to work together on this final and went with the game idea. Our game is a simple journey for Frosty the snowman that goes through each state of the heroic journey to find Rudolph. With of course, obstacles along the way. This is just a prime example of what stood out to all of us when we looked back on this semester.
Unfortunately, I was unable to take your Research Writing class next semester due to work hours and times of other classes. I also am aware that you will not be here at IUP much longer per wanting a job south J Can’t say I blame you! With all of this said, I just want to thank you for being a devoted professor, that never gives up and sticks to what he believes. Honestly Marlen, if all my professors were as devoted and strict as you are, I would walk away with a better in depth education. I have benefited from your classes in many ways, and I thank you for that. Have a great holiday, Merry Christmas!
Sincerely,
Shannon K. McMeans
