ABSTRACT
Monday was our last class, and we began by having everyone fill out the university
and department evaluations of the course. I handed back everyone’s writings
along with final grades. Afterwards, a few students volunteered to read aloud their
Assignment 13 essays, “Learning from a Classmate.” Beth singled out Javarro’s
recent essay about depression. “I wanted to give him a standing ovation because
I had no idea he went through that kind of struggle; it takes a special person to
overcome those struggles.” Jacob’s essay “The Death of a Marriage” impressed
Nicholette. “While reading the essay, I made one powerful realization that has
helped me to start my healing process: I don’t know if I will ever be able to
talk about my father and not shed tears, but I know that I am not alone in this
battle.” Jacob taught Nicholette that “despite all of the hardships from his father’s
domestic abuse, he came out of that situation with strong intentions to take his
father’s mistakes into consideration and learn from them.”
