Colloquium I and II are classes I will remember forever
Katie Shields | Major: Psychology | Minors: Honors, American Sign Language, and Neuroscience
6 Minute Read
Lessons From Colloquium
Last fall, as I began my freshman year, I was terrified of my Colloquium I class. I had no clue what to expect. After the first couple of weeks, I felt out of my depth; like everyone in class was smarter than me, a deeper thinker, a better student- I would never be able to keep up. This was by far the most challenging class I had ever taken. Through what felt like endless readings and submitting papers last-minute that I had little confidence in, I was somehow staying afloat. As the weeks went on, I slowly felt like I was finding my footing. I began to understand the class was so much more than readings and papers; what I found myself thinking on and learning from were the discussions with Dr. Krienke and my classmates. Dr. K was constantly pushing us to think deeper, to take a conversation further, and it felt as if a new part of my mind had been unlocked. I began looking forward to the class, enjoying it even. Then, when Colloquium II hit, I was ready. Although it came with new challenges, I knew where to find the value in the class, always learning something new from my classmates and professors’ perspectives.
Colloquium is by no means an easy class
Looking back, I learned several important lessons from my Colloquium classes. First, I found the value in interdisciplinarity. The professor and students, all coming from varying backgrounds, work towards the benefit of everyone. Each person can offer a different perspective from a different background of knowledge, and I learned things about astronomy, history, and science that I likely would not have found anywhere else. Even students from the same field as me often had bits of knowledge that were new to me, widening my lens on any given topic. Second, I learned that education is more than just facts and lessons. Colloquium taught me to think deeper, to value collaboration, and that it’s normal to admit what you don’t know. The class provided a safe place to converse and learn without any shame or guilt in making a mistake or being uninformed. Lastly, I have realized the importance of valuing where you are at right now.
Colloquium is by no means an easy class. It is often overwhelming and frustrating, trying to wrap your mind around entirely new concepts that your peers may be more well-versed in, while keeping up with all the readings and assignments. Therefore, it is easy to lose sight of the purpose of the class. Colloquium is not meant to push you over the edge- it means to push your boundaries and your world lens. It means to grow your knowledge and perspective on reality, making you a deep and wise thinker.
Colloquium I and II are classes I will remember forever. The lessons I took from these courses developed me as a person and learner. In hindsight, Colloquium is the most insightful class I have ever taken, and if you’re taking it now, I hope you come to this realization before it is hindsight. Value your professors, classmates, and heavy workload in this unique opportunity you have been blessed with.
