Learning Experiences: Closet Poet?

Learning Experiences: Blog 5  

As a senior, taking the chance to reflect on some of the classes that taught me more than I could imagine has been a great experience for me. One class I often think about is Poetry Writing Workshop 1, which I took last spring semester with Professor Alex Lemon. I had major doubts about my ability to write poetry. I knew I liked to read poetry, but I didn’t think I knew how exactly to write poetry. 

At the beginning of the semester, I was a little lost. I didn’t know if there was a specific format that I was supposed to follow, or if I even had good ideas. Yet as the semester continued, I found myself feeling lucky to have finally been able to allow myself to take a course like poetry. TCU has shown me so many different sides to not only myself, but to what there is out in the world. Learning from other students in the class was so exciting and I found many people who I look up to in there. 

During that semester, I found that there are multiple interpretations to a poem and that everyone has some meaningful insight to what it means to them. I learned so much about myself – I adore details and writing about events in concrete terms and being able to visualize whatever someone chooses to write about. It’s so important to give yourself enough time to be inspired and to also give yourself time to write and come back to it. Of course being myself, I always wanted my poem to be perfect the first time I wrote it – but I know now that my poems were much better with revision and peer feedback. 

What my poem meant to me may have had a completely different meaning to one of my peers. I loved how we were given the opportunity to share our poems and learn from each other. I found myself near the end of the semester looking at ordinary objects and wanting to write about them. It’s a different side to me that I never thought I would find. From doubt, to fear, to anger, to joy – I am confident I have the skillset to go forward with poetry – in whatever form that may be. 

I am proud of myself for pushing my boundaries and opening my mind to criticism and revision. I know I am nowhere near amazing, and I may never be, but it’s something I enjoy doing, and I think the only way to get better is to grow and try. Reflecting on that learning experience proved to me that taking classes outside of my comfort zone may just push me to places I never imagined going. That poetry class will probably be my one my favorite classes I ever take at TCU for the way it still challenges my thought process today. Sometimes the best learning experiences are ones you can't see until after the class is over.