As much as I am dreading this semester and the immense workload that is about to become my life, I am comforted by the fact that the end of my undergraduate education finally feels within my grasp. This summer has seen many a change in my life plans, most significant of which is my recent realization that I can't handle going to graduate school immediately following graduation. This summer has made me realize that I enjoy working in an environment where I go to work and after leaving, I am able to return home and do whatever I please with no concern or worries about said work environment, as opposed to school forcing me to be in class and also put in significant time outside of class. So, that's just a little update on Brady, now on to the topics at hand.
To be completely honest, I have yet to come across any explanation that accurately reflects the reality of Paideia. What is it? I can blabber on for hours about the three year class with one professor and the same group of peers, but as to the effects this has on those who choose to participate in Paideia, I have no idea. I really have a hard time pinpointing the effects that Paideia has had on me. In other words, I feel unable to answer the question of what my goals for this year of Paideia are because of the lack of a tangible goal in the program itself. The program is said to benefit students based on mere participation, but this offers no way for me to possibly understand what my goals should be. If I was forced to articulate some sort of goal for Paideia, I would say that my goal in Paideia this year is to do that which will be of the most benefit to my development in all areas of life, or that Paideia will do for me what it is "supposed" to do for me.
I've definitely fulfilled the intercultural experience requirement, having studied abroad three times during my time here at Southwestern. This year, I am staying at Southwestern for both semesters in order to complete the Capstone in both of my majors, in addition to wanting to spend my entire senior year on campus.
I apparently had been totally oblivious to the creative works aspect of Paideia until recently, thus I feel I will probably utilize one of my Capstones to fill the creative works requirement. I'm currently participating in the Communication Studies Capstone research seminar. Though I have decided on a topic and general direction of this Capstone, it is far from being refined enough to elaborate on it at any great length. I have chosen to examine good and evil as they are present in the HBO show True Blood. As for my Spanish capstone, I have no idea. In relation to my Capstone, I hope to be able to present my work not only in front of faculty and students of Southwestern, but in attendance at conferences as well.
I have caught an early case of Senioritis, and it's very serious. Whenever I'm asked to think about the future, I end up deliberately avoiding thinking about it. So, when asked to confront the goals I have for this semester, I instinctually reacted by not thinking about what my goals for this year of Paideia were. Thus, the blog post you see before you. Basically, I'm avoiding confronting the reality that comes shortly after graduation by avoiding even grappling with the question.
Talk to you soon,
Brady
