Final Reflections

           Reflecting on this class as a whole, I realize how much of an impact it has had on my views of the world. Coming into this class, I feel as if I was sheltered from many of the issues surrounding us. Whether this is due to a lack of interest on my part, or a lack of access to information regarding issues that the United States is involved in, I have learned how little I actually know about Latin America. Through this class, however, I have learned not only about the history, but also about culture, art, language, and literature of Latin America. The most enjoyable experiences of this class for me were the workshops and outside activities we were able to participate in. In speaking with friends from other honors sequences, they are always shocked to hear that we had dance workshops, a drum workshop, and even a field trip to Detroit to see the DIA. Not only were these activities a nice change to our normal class time, but they also helped spread Latin American culture to students who have most likely never been exposed to it before.

            I have also realized that this class has encouraged me to better myself academically. Through writing papers, answering discussion questions, and participating in learning community activities, I have been able to expand and challenge the ways in which I approached questions and problems before. By working in our groups, I have become more open to other’s ideas and have grown an affinity for group activities. The papers and discussions questions have also pushed me to critically think and become more analytical in my responses. Overall, this class has allowed me to gain a better understanding of problems in Latin America, and has taught me about issues in the world that I had no previous knowledge of.