Course Reflection

This has been a long, tiresome course, but I grew to love it. When I first joined the class everything seemed so irrelevant. I know I attend an HBCU, but I did not expect to be forced to sit through lectures that have been taught to me throughout my school years. The difference this time was that I got to hear from professorsn like Dr. Carr, who happens to be very passionate about African American studies. Honestly, I hate that the course has ended. I am intrigued by my change of heart. I find myself having out of class discussions with my friends and family about the NY African burial ground. It makes me wonder what my ancestors went through and whether I am actually walking on top of their burial ground. My favorite quote from this course is "when you are conceptualized as empty, you are filled with everything you encounter." I learned that a mbongi is a house without rooms. If I could change anything about the course, it would be to lengthen the time frame for guest speakers. I am a proud African American female, and this course has given me a different insight on my ancestors struggle.

Presentations

First off let me start off by saying all of the presentations were great. I cannot believe my group pulled it off. Everybody seemed so lost at the beginning, but we came together and had a masterpiece on our hands. We discussed the incompentacy of math education and future instructors. Sometimes I think I am a math major because science evolves around mathematics. During our presentation, I was unable to read one of the slides due to the colors chosen in the PowerPoint layout. All of the other groups presentations were organized, and their PowerPoints were neat. The students knew the material and were able to answer any question thrown at them. My favorite presentation was the one that focused on Thurgood Marshall's attributions to America's justice system.

Presentations ....

Presentation was not what I had expected at all. Going  into this course I knew there would be a research question that we all had to answer and I thought we were going to have to answer it in essay form but I was all wrong. Turned out to be that were in groups and present to whatever section we were in. I was kind of upset that we start working on our projects so late but that was because we were informed on working on the project a little late. At the end, it all came together though, and I believe we had a good enough presentation.

One groups presentation that I enjoyed was of my friends Lailah Duke group and how they related everything back to Hip Hop and how the social class between then and now is so different when it comes to music. That specific topic touched me more because I understand the difference that they applied with great information to explain their motive. While watching their presentation, I loved how the different slides had different movements and well put together art work. Every slide had information, and a picture to go along with it.

From bad to good presentations, I appreciated all the presentation that was presented to the course. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t but good luck to the ones who have yet to experience it. The presentations was not what I intended them to be but they were worth watching.

Final Evaluation

Freshman Seminar was definitely a mind enhancer for the year of 2011. I did not expect to learn so many things about myself and where my people have originated from. During this one semester course, we learned about our characteristics as being an African American, the significance of the African American Burial Ground, how to better develop ourselves mentally but also productively. I obviously gained some knowledge in areas where it was needed and hopefully other's encounters were also.

Many African Americans say that they are black but in reality, are not aware of who they are on the inside. When you ask a African American what they are , the respond with the answer of "black" but what does your ethnic background have to do with who you really are. In many of the lectures over the course of the semester addressed that we are different in many ways; our way of learning, the way we deal with specific situations, our matters of being black. By these, does not mean that we are incoherent learners but it means that we learn and apply things differently. African Americans need to see their problems and address them in a manner in which everyone understands.

Another interesting aspect of this course was indulging in the significance of the African American Burial Grounds. Learning about it in a class session was interesting but actually being able to go look at where all our ancestors was buried was devastating. I like how we continued to stay in a Mbongi during the trip to New York. By us paying our respect to our ancestors was fulfilling. I would enjoy going on that trip again.

Lastly, I believe that our mental development should have changed drastically. Hearing all the successful lectures about being something greater and to focus in on school and to receive good grades was an inspiration. To be successful should no longer be a choice for African Americans but it should be mandatory. Hopefully many learned from these lectures and are going to take this uplifting information into their own hands.

Overall I enjoyed Freshman Seminar. Before entering into this class I really thought it was going to be pointless and obviously I was wrong. You learn about yourself and your framers and I think this course was definitely need for me entering college with an open mind. I learned to not judge a course by its title but by its performance and that has proved me right.

Group Reflection

My group presentation in my eyes went very well. I contributed to the best of my abilities. It was a very relax setting and my group was extremely productive. The question we asked was how current African American scholars are making African Americans interested in the field of mathematics. This question was very interesting for me to find out because I had my opinion I was also able to figure out how others thought about it. At the end are group presentation went well and we gave are on. Now I believe are environment or Mbongi was positive and enjoyable. I feel like this was the perfect project for me to end freshman seminar. I was able to put everything I learned during freshman seminar. 

End of Semester Reflection

The end of the semester at Howard University has been amazing. Freshman Seminar has been for me a life time experience that can never be took away are changed by anybody. This year first semester went by extremely fast for me but the things that I learned our abided in my head. I have created Mbongi with others without even noticing. This year I did not agree with everything, but it was informative and helped me. During this class many interesting lecture were given forcing me to think like a scholar. I can say that freshman seminar has been a great experience. I was taught a lot about the African culture and our contribution to the world. During class I also was able to hear real life scholars that have transformed their academic knowledge into wisdom in their particular field of study. Each speaker had their own way of teaching and they were all effective. I also think the Mbongi helped me focus and helped me keep my notes organized. Reflecting back on freshman seminar I have strengthened my critical thinking skills. I did not agree with everything that was said but it helped me be very analytical as a scholar. I constructed my own opinion and expressed how I felt about particular lectures by talking with other students and writing in my blog. Altogether the class was successful because it taught me to think like a scholar. I believe now more than ever I am and Howard University scholar in the making.

“Initiation, Expectations, and Mastery—Continuing the Legacy of Howard University”

This week the lecture was “Initiation, Expectations, and Mastery—C ontinuing the Legacy of Howard University”given by Dr. Alvin Thornton. This lecture asked the question of what will we do to be successful in college and life. Now at this lecture it was totally different from all the others. It was no power points just an open discussion. He first started off by talking about Howard University and legacy.  Dr. Thornton wanted to know how we will affect Howard University legacy now that we are a part of it. The one thing that I know I will do to be the best and brightest at Howard University is to give my best and never stop trying. I understand that greatness is in my future but I must work hard to achieve it. I also understand with greatness I will be a citizen of the world. By be a citizen of the world I will take on world issues and understand how my actions affect more than just me. Dr. Thornton said that Howard University students will “turn over the soil”.  This to me means to change things in the world and challenge how the world operates.