How about a quick report on how my classes are going that I’m taking? It’s been enough time for me to make a pretty good first guess, so why not. I’m enrolled in Honors 200 English, Mass Communications 101, Sharing the Gospel 130, Honors Literature 203R, Book of Mormon 121, Visual Arts Seminar, and Honors Seminar. If you are interested in any of those classes, read on!

Honors 200 English

Professor: Julia Carter

Thus far, this class could be considered intense but also helpful. The 200 level English classes are specifically designed for those who have taken AP English in high school, and applies a level of difficulty accordingly. There is a far amount of reading, though not too much, but quite a bit of writing and rewriting in particular.

We are currently working on a personal narrative essay, wherein we give a story, and then explore how that story has helped form part of our life philosophy. It has been a very difficult essay to write so far, but many of the exercises that we have done with it concerning revising, rewriting, rethinking, etc., (can you tell the first drafts weren’t exactly stellar) have been a great help and are great tools that I’m sure I will continue to use throughout college.

I give the class a pretty good grade for learning and usefulness, a good grade for work, and a moderate grade for having a pretty intense and serious teacher.

Mass Media & Communications 101

Professor: Tom Robinson

This class is good fun, as well as educational! Our professor, Brother (how cool is that!) Robinson, is a great guy who always has a fun video clip or something to start off class, and can always relate what we are learning about in the vile world of communications back to the Gospel.

This class has the most reading of any, plus some rather large and demanding projects, but I really enjoy it. You have to read one 30-40 page chapter out of our Comms book per class period, but it keeps your interest, and has nice color pictures. Our group project right now is to create a 10 minute presentation on a given topic and position, meaning we weren’t allowed to choose either. Our group was assigned the issue “The mass media only has harmful effects on the body image of women,” and our position was “Yes.” In other words, we are to prove that the media does not have a harmful effect on male body image. Tough, but a good challenge.

Sharing the Gospel 130

Professor: Rick Jorgensen

A very different class in many respects. Obviously, it’s for those who are preparing for their missions, and as such everything we do is to prepare us to live a certain principle of the Gospel better. As such, there are a lot of “learning experiences” where someone messes up and we all get taught a principle from it. Certainly keeps you on your toes! But you can often feel the Spirit in class, so it is definitely worth it.

Brother Jorgensen is a pretty cool teacher. He loves what he does and does it well, and is very open to his students, whether to help them in class or out of class. From time to time it feels like he is just a little too excited about what he is teaching, and for some that can get on your nerves. But in general, I’d say he’s going to prepare me very well for my mission in January.

Honors Literature: Old Testament Roots in the Book of Mormon 203R

Professor: Ann Madsen

This is one amazingly incredible class! Probably my first or second favorite. Sister Madsen, wife of the Mormon-world famous Truman Madsen, is one of the best teachers I have ever met. Of course, the class material is conducive to it, but every single class we have held so far I have felt the Spirit so strongly. Did I ever have that in public education? No! Not once! We are examing the roots and qualities that are evident in the Book of Mormon as they come from the Old Testament, and looking at it from a literary perspective.

We are also expected to write a research paper by the end of the semester which is “worthy of appearing in a religious symposium.” Quite a tall order to fill, but such a stimulating and interesting prospect! I have not finalized it yet, but I think that I will either write about the types of governmental attributes that the BoM inherited from the OT, or the languages and progression thereof from the OT to the BoM to the New World. Wonderful class, everyone should take it!

Book of Mormon 121

Professor: Jim Walsh

Intro to the Book of Mormon is another wonderful class! It is an “Intro” to the BoM because you only cover the first half of the Book of Mormon - you cover the second half in 122. Unlike many of the other sections for this same class, we do not have to read the whole thing in 2 weeks, or 10 chapters every night, or keep detailed notes on every verse. Instead, Brother Walsh teaches concepts from the Book of Mormon, and applies it to the Church in general, which is a hugely beneficial method of teaching. He also allows us to ask questions whenever we like, and we often get into deep doctrinal teachings, which I have never been able to do in any seminary classes or anything before, as the teacher usually just shies away from it. Brother Walsh however will dive right into it, and has the depth of a sure scriptorian to back it up.

He is also a very powerful teacher too, and every class period my friends and I just walk away totally filled and awe-struck. We have two mid-terms and a final, but instead of reading and reporting on what food Ammon ate on the 32^nd day of his mission, he has us purchase a packet of selected talks from the leadership of the Church, read those, and we are tested on that, as well as some general principles from class. If at all possible, get a class with Brother Walsh, he is one of a kind.

Visual Arts Seminar 111

Not much to say here. I haven’t really mentioned it, but I pretty much changed my expected major from Graphic Design to Communications on the second day here. VA Seminar was a class I signed up for (one of the only) after I found out that you had to have passed a portfolio review to be accepted into the college before you could take classes, so that’s why I have it.

Thus far, it has been interesting. A new professor is brought in every week to talk about their particular focus in the college, and they often share their own personal work and beliefs. The class grade is entirely attendance-based, so there is no pressure whatsoever. If you are interested in art but are still feeling out what particular area, I would recommend this class. Otherwise, it’s just an easy way to get 1 credit.

Progressing in Honors: Seminar 292R

Now here is an interesting seminar class! Every week a guest speaker or professor is brought in to talk about whatever they want. Often, the topics are based in their area of expertise, so they are very in-depth, focused seminars given on a variety of subjects. We have had two teachers come in so far, one talking about balancing your life and the other talking about life-long learning. Both were very well done, and both linked back to the Church excellently.

The only homework required for this class is attendance and a 250-word response after every seminar, but it is certainly worth it. The Honors seminars are actually open to anyone who wishes to attend, but if you have any desire at all to go to them, why not get a credit for it?

And those are my 7 classes, worth 15 credit hours. I have 15 credit hours from AP classes, so next semester (pending no disastrous failed classes) I will technically be a sophomore! That’s a good thing, because I’m leaving after this semester for my mission, and don’t want to come back two years later and have to claim I’m a freshman! I am very happy with my schedule, and hope that everything goes as planned. Toodaloo!