At the beginning of this semester I was nervous about taking MiDE 300. I would not consider myself an artist, so I was concerned that I would be lacking in the creative and artistic components of the course. I ultimately realized that the MiDE major and course(s) are not solely focused on those components. MiDE 300 , unlike any of my other academic courses, has allowed me to think about creativity, ideas, and major life events differently.
Before taking this course, I struggled with many of the habits we discussed in MiDE 300. I think that child’s eye and hyper observation came more naturally to me relative to the other three habits. I have always been aware of my surroundings and environment, as well as people’s behaviors and actions. My natural ability to be hyper observant has shaped my academic interests and possible career options. I have always been interested in psychology and sociology, which is related to the way our society and specific individuals think, act, and behave. My observant habits have allowed me to create a deeper understanding of different people and situations. While I have practiced this habit prior to this course, after taking MiDE 300, I think my skill has further developed. I remember the activity where we walked around campus alone and in complete silence. I recognized that while this skill may come more naturally to me and be of interest to me, there are many distractions in our environment that discourage us from being hyper observant.
Also, while hyper observation may come more naturally to me, I did, and I still, struggle with the following habits: failing forward and creative confidence. In the past, I have had difficulty accepting failure, as our society puts a large amount of pressure on individuals to succeed. In many of my classes, we are taught to only put forth the correct answer, rather than to share any ideas that may be relevant. The way in which this class is taught, has allowed me to feel more comfortable sharing my ideas, as there are no correct answers. The failure resume was extremely helpful in evaluating the failures in my life and how they have influenced me today. The ability to reflect and appreciate my failures has encouraged me to become more involved on Bucknell’s campus and apply to different internships and jobs. Additionally, before taking MiDE 300, I was concerned about the creative component of this course and major. However, after taking this course, my creative confidence increased. I realized that there is no proper way to go about a certain assignment and that creativity is not necessarily defined by one’s artistic abilities. I think that creative confidence is still a habit I need to develop further, however, this course has enabled me to push myself in regards to creativity and sharing my ideas.