Redding 1

Lauren Redding

ENG 252

Sister Robinson

December 13, 2017

Final Reflection

This class has stretched me, which I never foresaw. This has been my most impactful

class that I had this semester. In this course, I was really able to reflect the importance of being

an English major and if the path that I had set for myself was really the correct path for me.

One of the course objectives is to understand career options that I would have as an

English major. As long as I can remember I knew I wanted to be an author. And then when I

grew up and realized I needed to pay the bills, I decided that I was just going to be an editor,

because I was NOT going to be a teacher. When it came to the research assignment, where we

had to find a problem or concern we had within the English department. I think being a

disciple/leader as an English major means to be able to teach and be taught in turn.

I think that in the English department that it is a perfect opportunity to learn how to be a

better disciple-leadership skills. Part of being a leader is communicating clearly what you expect.

In terms of English as a writer (leader) I have to learn how to get the reader to follow the

direction of my paper. Leading them to think in a different way, or to see another point of you.

As the author (leader) I have to be in charge of every word that is said and the points I want to

get across, so as to be understood clearly and effectively. Words have the power to change

readers, which is why as the author (leader) it is important to use the authority and power I have
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to help readers best understand the viewpoints of myself or others. On the other hand to be a

disciple means that there is still things to learn and master. Being able to be on the receiving end

of peer feedback is critical to me. If I want to become a master of my craft I need to learn how to

take constructive criticism as well as, realizing that there is still so much more to learn in the

craft. With every major project we undertook in the class we had a class period to have our items

peer reviewed. In doing this we allowed ourselves to be lead, changing our drafts and shaping

them into something better. To become the master, I first must be the student. Humility is a trait

that both attributes need, in order to share or to be used to the best of their capacity.

What this all means for me, is that though I am starting to study to become a teacher, I

also need to be a student. This class has put possibilities into my vision that I was blind to before.

In the scripture verses, put in the prompt, two thoughts stood out to me the most. One, in D&C

121:42 says; pure knowledge which will greatly enlarge the soul Knowledge is to be gained

so that we can grow. This class helped to enlarge my soul because it pushed the boundaries of

my knowledge. Or it challenged what I thought I knew about being an English major. I was

tested. Technology is not my friend, I have always thought this way. This class helped me to face

certain fears that I had due to technology. In the stretching process I realized my capacity was

larger than I had originally thought.

The other line that stands out to me is from D&C 88:118 it reads; seek ye diligently and

teach one another words of wisdom...seek learning, even by study and by faith. It is interesting

in this verse that it talks about study and faith, because both are action words. This is exactly

what I was doing in this class, I was studying out of the best books, gaining as much knowledge

as I could. It was in that moment where I was seeking my education where I was redirected in

my path to consider another option. That I honestly had never considered to be for my path.
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However, it was by study and then acting on the prompting, having faith that God would lead me

to my best path, which lead me to switching my major.

Going forward in my career I want to be an English/History teacher, to be most effective

in my job I need to learn everything I can. Seek learning in all kinds of ways and also to have

faith in Him in what I am doing. In trying to lead I was lead. I really am grateful for the insights

that I gained in class, if I wasnt looking I would never have found my path.