I’m writing this in my parents’ kitchen after the PWR showcase. What a week it’s been. I’ve turned in a Verification Quest, cobbled together a poster board about tabletop roleplaying games, and spent a good couple of hours writing links and commands for a Twine game. I think it goes without saying, but I’m exhausted. More than that, I am a little bit emo.
It all set in on my drive back home. The semester is a few weeks away from ending. I only have a few more semesters before I’m done with my undergrad. I’ve taken two PWR classes this semester, and I think I can say that they’ve taught me more than the other literature-focused classes I’ve had in years passed. I’ve learned how to research properly, how to write HTML and CSS (still relatively poorly), and how to find my voice in my writing, even with more difficult topics. I’m sad that it’s ending, but I’m thrilled that I get to take these skills to new classes.
As for what I actually learned this week:
Communication on group projects always seems to be lacking, but I’m very grateful that my group has seemingly risen above that. My group and I spent a solid handful of hours in the library this week. Our shared Word Document is both productive and chaotic. Notes in different fonts and colors populate its pages at the present moment. Fortunately, the backdraft of chaos on our shared doc has stayed away from our Twine game.
Interactive nonfiction is really not my strong suit. I know the point is to grow a new muscle, but jeez, I suck at it. Trying to write a narrative that isn’t fictional has been difficult. I have to look at every plot point I write and ask, “Is this fictional? Is this made up or make-believe at all?” I’ve performed a lot of rewrites these past few days. I’m sure our in-game narrative will end up being a little fabricated, and I’m willing to accept that.
The threat of winter lurking in the November air has killed my motivation to write creatively. Not that I would’ve had the time to do that this week anyway, but I felt like it was worth noting. I’m used to spending a few hours a week brainstorming ideas and trying to write them out in the least shotgun-blast style, but the temperature dropping and the biting wind have made me want to lay on my couch and watch some 80s sci-fi.
To conclude, I’d like to get a little sappy. I’m very grateful for the folks in my PWR classes this semester. You guys are all wonderful to bounce ideas off of and hear from. Please remember that each of you brings such a unique and important perspective to every table you sit at. I hope this upcoming semester teaches you a lot, bolsters your confidence, and makes you feel like empowered thinkers. You are important, you are welcome, and your words bring power.
Comments
3 responses to “Lamenting a Spent Semester”
This really hit me in the feels. I can totally relate to the exhaustion and the mix of emotions at the end of the semester. It’s crazy how quickly time flies, especially when so much is going on. It felt like this semester was on two times speed. We’ve definitely picked up a ton of new skills this semester. I’m glad to hear your group project came together and your research poster board on ttrpgs affecting writing skills was top notch. As for interactive nonfiction, don’t be too hard on yourself since it’s definitely a tricky genre, and it’s all about finding that balance between fact and creativity. You’re doing amazing stuff and you’re awesome! Keep up the great work!
I graduate in May, so the nostalgia is coming in strong. I feel like I just started. My PWR classes have been some of the most experimental and mentally pushing classes I’ve ever taken, and this class is no exception. Learning HTML and CSS was genuinely painful. I did mental gymnastics every time I sat down to try and figure out why something wasn’t working. In the end, though, it was very rewarding. This final project has been super fun, and something that I’m excited to see come full circle. It’s been a lot of fun seeing everyone’s game come together. I thought you and your group’s game had a good balance between fiction and history. The code actually helped me figure out how to upload videos! I hope you have a great rest of your semester!
I too am exhausted lol. I definitely agree that this class has taught me a lot more than the literature classes I’ve taken. While I enjoyed a lot of those classes, I also ended up walking away from lots of them with the feeling that I hadn’t really gained anything. However, leaving this class I feel like I’ve learned tons about things I didn’t even know existed (markdown languages and how the internet works). I’m really thankful that I got to take this class before graduating and am with you all the way on being grateful for the people in this class. It’s been fun!