I have learned many things over the three terms, from how to write, and write well, how to read with a critical eye, and to listen and understand. I have also learned to work in groups and how to evaluate their work and their help. This term alone, there were four different group assignments, The Civic Engagement project, the Immigration project, the E-zine and Gentrification project. It has been amazing to work with so many different people over this term and to get to know them as well. It�s been interesting to learn the different patterns of work that each person has. Some people are better to work if they are just told what to do, and some people are the one�s who want to tell people what they need to do. And yet, there are others who are better at giving ideas and helping out others when they are stuck. Having a good mix of those people in a group works wonderfully, and yet, if you don�t have a mix, so for example you have a group of people who just want to be told what to do, and no one will take charge, then work will not go well.
One thing that I have enjoyed in FRINQ has been mentor session. This last term I switched mentor sessions and got to know other people in class other then those that were in �bob�. I had a great time in �better then bob� getting to know the other people in class. I really enjoyed the fact that there were people that I didn�t think talked very much because they were always quite in main session and in mentor session they actually talked and I got to know what they thought about things and hear their views. I found it very interesting and entertaining as well.
Mentor session also opened me up to a bunch of different opportunities and more knowledge of what was going on in my world around me. I went to see or rather hear John Kerry speak in Pioneer Square in May with Jenn, because Liz told the class about it in mentor session. That was something every interesting and something that I think will help me decided who to vote for in November. This is yet one example of how FRINQ has helped me be a better person, and be more aware of what is going on around me. I normally couldn�t care less about politics or what was going on, as long as it didn�t affect me on a large scale. But learning the different things in class this term, about other cultures and what we see them as, and how our country is involved has opened my horizons and I have learned so much and because of it, I have become a better person and I am able to look for things out side of what we are shown as American citizens.
Another aspect of my changing is me changing as a student. I have learned how to look at things from a different perspective. I have realized how the media filters what we see and decide on how they show it to us. Sometimes I wonder now about what the rest of the story is behind anything that I hear, but besides that, it makes me look at the different things that I learn from my other classes in a careful way. I have also learned to write better, and to be more objective as well as how to work with others and scheduling. It has been useful in my other classes being able to work with other people. I now know that I need to look for what people do best, and help them in working with that part of their abilities.
This year has been quite the learning experience for me, in FRINQ and outside of it. I have become more of an adult and a better person and student. All of the different things that I have learned will help me in my future classes and experiences that are to come. I look forward to being able to see things from a different point of view and I look forward to seeing what qualities others poses in working and gaining help from them and helping them as well. This year, overall has been a good experience and I am happy to take away the knowledge that I have gained here.