Note: Several people have answered 'non-class' related items. Please read carefully so that your answer reflects something that was tied to our in-class experience (even if it related to something outside of class for you). Make the in-class connection first. Thanks!
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This is a wide open question that allows you to consider anything we've discussed in class this year. Absolutely anything.
All of you are extremely bright and have figured out a remarkable range of ideas along the way.
Sometimes the realizations -- or 'epiphanies' -- may have been purely based on the plot or text. Other times they may have been about something that is in the real world. Whatever it is, I'm curious about one 'big idea' or realization you've had this year (that continues to stick with you) because of anything that was discussed in class. Sometimes they've been a mixture of both plot and real world.
Challenge:
Tell us about one thing that really made an impact on you as a person (and student).
It is up to you how long the response is.
My guess? The more important it was, the longer your response. Just a guess. I'm funny that way.
Our class discussion on how to prove you exist really inspired me.
It was the type of question that couldn't really be answered. Some people tried to prove their existence but fell short. I tried my hardest to prove I exist but failed. The question made me think a lot about life. Such as how do I know my life isn't one big dream. What if the people I know are just figments of my imagination? The question just made me think of even more questions!
Posted by: Student #1 | April 25, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Alright, laugh all you want but these last few years I have gotten really involved with the “secret” you might have heard of it on Oprah. Its about having positive thoughts in life and not thinking negatively, to achieve what you want. My mom also uses it in her psychology practice. Also my whole family has gotten into practicing it. With manifestations and positives wants that one might put out there in the universe, it gives back to you. Therefore you exist, if what you asked for you received.
Posted by: Student #2 | April 27, 2008 at 04:19 PM
One of the most impacting epiphanies I've obtained would be when I perceived how disappointing life can be. My memory is vague what day or date I actually realized this epiphany. However I do recall as a kid, I would always get my hopes up for these over-hyped places, events, people, etc. but once I actually witnessed everything, I was starting to get perpetually disappointed. I soon realized that nothing will ever live up to my expectations if I get my hopes too high. As a result, I have developed a more relaxed calm attitude and I have set my standards lower, and soon enough, everything was impressing me. In addition, every time I heard about an event that was being hyped up, I was able to provide the skeptical devil's advocate. Of course, however I try to maintain a balance of mixed feelings between disappointment and satisfaction so that I may attempt to possess equilibrium.
Posted by: Student #3 | April 27, 2008 at 06:17 PM
I've learned to live life without regrets. If a person is able to go through a situation without regret, and in doing so trying everything they could in that situation to reach the goal of that situation, that person will never be dissapointed with themselves. Although this is arguably a hard concept to accomplish, (it is for me) once completed right a person will have complete pride and joy in themselves knowing that what they did they are content with. In knowing this fact, it has deeply impacted my life for the better, because in doing so it has given me the confidence to take risks and sometimes reap their rewards.
Posted by: Student #4 | April 27, 2008 at 07:39 PM
Well, this isn't something we have really discussed in class but it is something I realized from this class. I always somewhat believed that everything happens for a reason. During class we had discussions on why someone would do this or why this happened. All those discussions lead me to think in different ways. Now I question everything I do, not necessarily a bad thing, but I analyze and think through it more thoroughly. When I didn't read our required pages, we would have a quiz the next day and I would fail it. Later, I would go back and read the required pages and the homework pages and pay even more attention to the small things. So, I guess not reading and failing a quiz makes you realize that you have to go back and read and pay attention to everything. So, like I said everything happens for a reason!
Posted by: Student #5 | April 27, 2008 at 08:49 PM
I really like to always be right. This year I have learned that being right is not as important as being able to explain why I am right. My epiphany has been realizing that in order to be right I have to be able to argue the point that I am arguing against. By acknowledging that I cannot always be right I have learned to only argue the things that I believe in most. Knowing the other side helpes to form my argument and allows me to predict where someoe else might take the debate.
Posted by: Student #6 | April 27, 2008 at 09:58 PM
My epiphany is inspired by the dream machine discussion we had in class a couple of months ago. As I was trying to argue that if such machine existed, then everyone should go in because life in the machine would replace the reality and everything would be better. However, Mr. Long made me realize that if I went in the machine, then the impact that I could have made on other people would not occur, that I would not be able to change my kid's life in 10 years if I chose to go in the machine and stay passive towards the world. Through that conversation, I discovered my selfishness and my lack of purpose, which would be to influence others, to contribute to the society. Now I have a new hope, that even though I may not become the next president of US, I can still change life around me and help people near me.
Posted by: Student #7 | April 27, 2008 at 10:01 PM
A month Ago, I learned to cherish your family because you will never know when they will leave you. it could over the course of time or instantly, coming out of nowhere.
My sister died on March 27 and I miss her dearly and I think about her every day. Clearly this would be a huge impact on anyone especially someone who's life revolves around that family member.
Posted by: Student #9 | April 27, 2008 at 11:21 PM
From this class I've realized how much is possible. I have been able to see many different things through the things we have read, and I have also had the chance to use some of my own creativity. From the wide range of books and poetry we've read so far I've been able to see how much people have done with words. I like how I have been exposed to more writing and it has shown me that I like a lot more than I thought I would. I have been shown a lot that has really influenced the way I read other things and the way I think about my own writing.
Posted by: Student #9 | April 28, 2008 at 01:29 AM
Although most of my epiphanes have been plot or text based, I still consider each of them a learning experience. One epiphanie I had was during class we were talking about what a true hero meant. We spent 30 minutes trying to impress you with big words and fancy phrasing but we were still not getting at the point of the question. Who is the real hero? Pointing out the facts and showing how everyone did wrong except for that person means nothing. A true hero is the impact that person or thing made on the story, and how it influenced the conclusion. I think during that brutal class, that epiphanie hit me the second I walked out of the door.
Posted by: Student #10 | April 28, 2008 at 07:58 AM