Final Post!

This class has been quite the learning experience for me this semester. I really liked the teaching style of my professor, Brother Williams, and feel as if I learned more from him than I have from other professors or teachers. I have been able to relate to him and his stories and have appreciated his openness and honesty throughout the semester.

With the end of the class drawing nearer by the day, I'm reflecting on what we've been over this semester and what I can take away from the class. It was remarkable when Brother Williams told us how students tend to hardly remember anything from classes they've taken in school, so I tried to pay extra hard attention to the lessons that he taught us. I think the impressions and personal epiphanies that I've had in this class will stick with me throughout the ages.

One of the thoughts that I had in this class was how to help improve the family situation that exists in my home back in North Carolina. The main issue is with my mother. Through this class and a couple of others (general psychology and, oddly enough, child development) I have been able to see that she has behavioral and psychological issues that really affect her social interactions with those around her. It has been so hard for both my sister and I to have a good relationship with her because of her controlling attitude and unforgiving mindset. It has been even harder for my dad to have been married to her for the past 46 years. Having taken this class, it is now easier for me to see where she's coming from and why she thinks and responds in the ways that she does. I know that she's probably not going to change in the remaining years of her life, so it's up to me to react in a way that allows us to have a healthy relationship while not letting her manipulate me. It has been really hard for her to accept that I am an adult and she still tries to control things in my life even though I'm turning 24 this year. I think this class has helped me develop more of a compassionate attitude towards her and her problems.

Overall, I am very grateful that I decided to take this class. As I work on my list of the top 10 most important things that I've learned from this class, I'm sure my eyes will be even more opened to the lessons taught to us than they already are. I am more confident than ever that I will be able to have a healthy family of my own in the future, thanks in part to this class.