Dear Marlen,
So let me begin with telling you when I first started this class you scared the living shit out of me. I was so terrified I wanted to scream and run. I thought you were very intimidating. I was not sure if I should run and hide or just say screw it and walk out but I stayed obviously. So I am sitting here writing this letter thinking about what I would like to say to you.
The first thing is I love how we can say anything to you and you never judge or point fingers. I like how you understand when it comes to everything. For example just Monday no one did your assignment. You were pissed but you understood. Most professors are not like that.
I am so glad I took this class. It sure has been an experience for me. I have learned a lot and enjoyed every bit of it so far. I enjoy the class so much that getting up at 4:30am so I can make it to your 8:00am class is not hard at all. It is better than sitting through any other class.
I have no ideas for you to change the class. I think that it is well worth the money we are paying to come. You really get all your ideas across. I am sure I am not the only one learning as much as I am. I think how you are running the class is the right way and it is working for the students.
When I read your emails over the summer I thought you were full of Bullshit. I never thought your class would be that much work. Lots of professors say that their class is hard and I breeze right through it. That first day sitting in your class, I felt fear. Fear for failing. I have never had a class I had to work in until yours. You have pushed me to my breaking point. I have wanted to be like Marlen can you give me any more crap to do? You seem more like a mentor. You taught me what it is like to have to study and work for something. I have not had to work for my grades till now. In a weird way I like working for an A.
I have carried so much with me from what we have learned. Anything I watch I figure out the journey the main character goes on. I even teach the stuff I learn to my dad (when I say dad I always refer to my stepdad. I just wanted to make that clear since my paper was on my biological father. I call my stepdad Daddy.) Now we sit and figure things out together when watching television. I understand now with my family situation (my real dad) the atonement with the father that I am dealing with. I also use the archetypes in my life also.
I also have never walked out of a class using the material I learn in my everyday life. I expected nothing out of this class when I first came into it and sat down. Now I expect myself to learn and walk out each and every day with something new to go home and tell my dad all about. It is amazing how much I have accomplished in this class and we are just halfway through.
I really liked reading Watership Down. It was a great book I thought and I imagined the bunnies as people in a way. Siddhartha was alright. It was certainly not my favorite. I am so glad it was not 500 pages like Watership Down was. The Color Purple starts off very strange and I am not very far but it seems that it may get better.
I also like that when I do or say something that you really like you tell me. You make me feel like I accomplished something, and that is a great feeling to have. The only other people in my life to do that are my daddy and my poppy that passed away. Just like other day when I came up with the President as the father figure. You were so proud of me, and that made me feel great knowing that the person who has control of my grade thought I did an awesome job.
I am excited for the last half of the class. I do have to say I think I will be sad once the semester ends and I will no longer have you as a professor. I am truly enjoying this class.
Sincerely,
Courtney Yankasky
Thanks for taking this journey with me, Courtney.