Tuesday, January 09, 2007

First Day Back or What the Heck Did I Get Myself Into?!

I realize it's probably somewhat natural to have the jitters on the first day of a new semester. I also realize it is difficult to know what to expect after only one class.

But I'm thinking I may be in slightly over my head signing up for an Honors Literature class.

Scratch that.

I'm dead.

I come from a very humble background. My small school didn't exactly offer a first-class education. And the community college I attend now isn't exactly Harvard. Though I have always had above average grades, I wouldn't neccessarily classify myself as a "scholar".

And though I am a fan of literature and at one time, was an avid reader, I have a confession to make.

This is my very first literature class.

Ever.

That's it. I'm dead.

I did have some literature in my high school English class, but anything I learned or read beyond that was purely recreational on my part. It's weird, but I used to read Shakespeare for fun.

However, today when my instructor asked the class what they were currently reading, the first book that popped into my head was Green Eggs and Ham. Beyond that, I got nothin'.

And I look around and these are all kids. So young and so bright and all I could do was sit and listen. If I dared say a word my cover as a True Literary Master would be blown. And they would all know I am nothing but a poser.

Poser. How's that for a shining example of my literary exptertise?

Dead. Dead, dead, dead. As a doornail.

These kids were using words I had to write down so I can look them up in the dictionary. I did. I swear.

And then the instructor gave us a "light" reading assignment for discussion on Thursday. About 40 pages of opinions and essays on the French Revolution. Tiny print.

"If, as I suspect, modern letters owe more than they are always willing to own to antient manners, so do other interests which we value full as much as they are worth." (Edmund Burke; Reflections on the Revolution in France)

Huh?

Let's just say it's a far cry from Sam I Am.

And I haven't even had my Math class yet.

Yup. I'm dead.

13 comments:

Kelli said...

I do not know
the words I scan
I'm scared of math
Oh Sam I am.

But you will shine
and be so glam
You will do GREAT
says Sam I Am.

MamaTeeThree said...

Oh, how I feel your pain. Last fall, I enrolled in Early British Literature. I had to buy modern English translations for much of the stuff we read. I felt like a poser, too. And I think I may have been the oldest student in the class. I sat and listened a lot, and tried not to get called on to answer questions. I'm not sure the instructor would have accepted "umm, I dunno" as an answer. LOL

SAHSHA said...

You'll be fine. Just take it slow and say to yourself over and over again: "This is easy.. I can do this..." and pretty soon.. it will be! It's a trick I play with myself and it works! Believe in yourself. Don't let the class fluster you. I have loved literature all my life and although I didn't do well in my AP English Class, I learned so much that I carry with me every day. It's not about the grades girl. I was typically an "A" student but I was in over my head and finished with a mediocre grade but the education I received in that class was tremendous. Do your best and let the stories teach you. ( I actually got a mediocre grade because my papers were always late. The first paper I wrote for the teacher was copied and passed around to everyone and ripped apart and bleeding with all my erros and criticism. It paralyzed me into never writing for her again. Writing is my art and I can't stand to have someone tell me it's not the best or it's not perfect.. It still haunts me.. Girl... but that's me... don't let that freak you out... just go with what I said in the beginning.. I don't know how I got off on this goofy tangent... )

Antique Mommy said...

Oh you'll do great, trust me. I've been exactly where you are. You are a smart gal. I'm betting you come out of there with an A.

Distybug said...

It's National De-Lurking week, so all lurkers are emcouraged to comment. Here goes...

I may have missed a post, but why are you back in college/

SuperMom said...

Well, Ditsybug, it's a long story, but in short, to finish my degree.

Oh yeah, and to make me a better person.

Grafted Branch said...

Hang in there, Supermom...you'll be great! You WILL come back at some point and explain the excerpt, won't you? (:^)

Goslyn said...

Oh dah-ling, the problem is not that you can't succeed in an Honors Lit course, it's that you're in a BORING honors lit course! I was an English Lit major, and your first reading assignment sounds impossibly boring.

Something that always helped me get through the monotony of passages like that was to break the assignments into smaller sections - maybe 10 pages at a time - and alternate with something I did enjoy, like a book from another class. If you only have to read boring junk for 10 minutes at a time, you can do anything.

You'll do fine, of course, because we all believe in you! It's like clapping for Tinkerbell so she won't die. We're all a-clappin' out here!

Anonymous said...

Never fear. Once you get past the perfectly useless first assignment, you can turn to:

http://www.cliffsnotes.com

:)

I loved being an English Lit major--when else in my life have I been *required* to read?

Let us know your next few book titles. Surely it only gets better after _Reflections on the Revolution in France_?

Remember that proverb, even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent? That was my motto in any honors class. Say nothing, reveal nothing. Just sit there and look smart.

LiteratureLover said...

Of anyone, I know you can endure it. It can only go up from this, right?

heartsjoy said...

Sounds fun! ;)

Lean Not said...

Hi. I just discovered your blog. Nice to "meet" you.

I teach college literature. I will pray for you: like Goslyn said, your class just doesn't sound that exciting! Hang in there. I'm sure it will get more interesting once you get into it.

You should take my class. I'm told it's fun. :) See ya next semester. :)

"If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it: not 'somehow,' but 'triumphantly'!"

leannot.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

lol......dont worry u will get through it