Plymel 1

Tryston Plymel
Dr. Beth Fowler
Honors PS1010 Section 523
22 April 2016
Reflective Essay
As I reflect on my Honors PS1010 experience, I can see how my knowledge of politics
has grown. At the beginning of the semester, my competence for American politics consisted of
the factual information that I had gained from my singular class in high school. This course has
granted me the awareness of the structures and agencies that are constantly surrounding me.
These figures are working continuously to make an impact on the community. This course also
made me conscious of the institutions that productively function as a barrier in-between
structures and agencies. Overall, this class expanded my former knowledge of American
government to include the structures, agencies and institutions that operate in society. It also
exposed me to the methods of changing these organizations if they are no longer positively
effective.
Additionally, the course required a formal group project revolving around policy efforts.
These issues, although they were specific to Detroit, included problems varying from pregnancy
to homelessness. My groups particular issue was substance abuse in the youth; this problem
effects a large number of teenagers in the city. Through the research that we performed, I learned
the numerous lifestyles that can influence adolescents into a life of drugs. Partnering with this
issue granted us the opportunity to do our service project with Auntie Nas House. This service
learning experience was heart-warming and made me understand the issue on a personal level.

Plymel 2

Although I was not surprised by how chronic the issue of substance abuse was in Detroit, I was
astonished to see how it afflicted so many adolescents. Also, I did not expect to see that harder
drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, are more commonly used in the city than marijuana and
alcohol. Although these facts were staggering, the love and affection that was received at Auntie
Nas gave me hope for the city. Working alongside my group members I felt a sense of pride for
helping these children escape the addictive lifestyle. I truly hope that I can continue on in my
career so that no child will fall into a life of substance abuse.
The knowledge that I have gained in this course will not become unfamiliar to me as my
education continues. This information is not only valuable but, useful in everyday life. Through
the PS1010 course I learned how to change laws and policies in my own community. By doing
this, these policies can become more beneficial to myself and my fellow citizens. I also learned
the value of community and group work. By reflecting on the work I have done in this course, I
can clearly see significance of this class and it contents.