Dear Marlen,

Wow what can I say, it went by so fast. I didn’t think I would make it but I did and I am very proud of myself. I feel that throughout this semester I have grown in the class and in my life journey. I really enjoyed taking this course with you Marlen. I think that your class really helps people find who they are and what they are made of. I think that the class overall was great.

            In this class I have learn many different forms of literature, theories, poems, and movies. I like the way the different themes all come together in one way or another. I was not really getting it at first but I can now say that it all came together. In the beginning, I was really having trouble because I did not really comprehend all the assigned readings. I started to fail the quizzes and thought that maybe it was too much for me to handle. Lately I have been trying to participate in the conversations in class because I am starting to understand a little bit more and plus I really need the bonus points.

The first time in class when the word archetype was mentioned I really didn’t know what it was. Learning about the archetypes, monomyths and the hero’s journey was very interesting. The hero’s journey wasn’t really new to me but the way I learned it in class was a little different then what I was thinking about in the beginning.By learning the archetypes, I have learned a little more about others as well as myself and that everyone at some point in their lives goes through most of the different archetypes. I sometimes catch myself looking at different things and comparing it to the different archetypes.

The reading was a lot but I guess that’s college. I struggled to keep up with all of the reading and the poems. I really didn’t think it would be possible to read all seven books in one semester and still have time for other course readings assignments. With the Color Purple I have watched that movies a million times but you showed me a different meaning with the archetypes and monomyths. Most of these books I had never heard of before but after reading them I really liked them. I didn’t see the connections of the books but as time went on I made connections with the books and my life journey. 

                        I also like the theme of a hero’s journey. Learning about the path taken throughout a hero’s journey is very interesting for me. It made me look back over my life’s journey and point of my belly of a whale moment and my threshold etc. Another thing I liked about the class was when we watched “In the Woods”. I knew all of them fairy tales from when I was a little girl but I never made the connection that they all come together.  

            I liked many things about the class. I really liked the class discussions.  It helped me to understand the work  from other people point of view rather than just my own because I didn’t always get it. I was glad to see that sometimes other people feel the way I do in the discussions. I think that by discussing things we really make connections with the literature  and life experiences.

I can honestly say that I have gained a lot from this Literature Class, and it has been a wonderful journey. It is unbelievable how much I learned this semester alone in your class and I am glad I stayed in the course. I really liked the teaching methods that were used. I know that all of the information I learned in this class I will take with me in my future classes.

Marlen, I never had a professor like you before. You are cool as shit and then can be a little tuff but I like it.  You are as real as can be. I like the way you laugh and joke with us about things when we are in discussions but still stay focus on what you are teaching. You really show that just because you are young and want to have fun, you are about your shit. This has been a wonderful journey for me ever since the beginning of the semester. Just like I explained before I knew your class was going to be a challenge but I didnt know that I was going to enjoy myself so much. Thanks Marlen!!

Jasmine Taylor