Hello guys, gals, and non-binary pals! For today’s blog, we will be talking about my favorite classes that I have taken at Amherst College so far. Last May was the official end of my first year at Amherst, and I want to take a moment to reflect upon some of my favorite classes that I took during that time. For the most part, I enjoyed all the classes I took, but I want to highlight my top three here.
3. Introduction to Music (MUSI-111)
This course was the first music class that I had ever taken. I had become really interested in playing guitar during the first semester of my first year, and I wanted to learn more about the theory behind what I was practicing. This class was a great intro to music theory, and I really enjoyed going to class every day. The professor, Jeffers Engelhardt, was really what made the class so fantastic. Every class would always go over the allotted time slot, but I never minded because I always felt like the time spent in class was being used in a purposeful and meaningful way. Engelhardt answered everyone’s questions in a way that really helped everyone in the class understand whatever concept we were working on, and I always left the class feeling like I had learned something new.
2. Action and Character (THDA-113)
Action and Character were always one of the classes I actively looked forward to attending each day. This class was an intro-level acting course with people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences with theater. Our professor, Jude Sandy, did a wonderful job of welcoming everyone into the class and making sure that we all felt like we belonged there. This was the first time I had ever taken an acting course, and I chose to take it because I wanted to try something new. Professor Sandy was always really understanding whenever you talked to him about anything, and he gave fantastic feedback on all of the work that we did in class. Although some of the acting exercises we did seemed strange at first, I slowly grew to really enjoy them. At the beginning of every class, we would do a warm-up, and afterward, I would always feel more peaceful, calm, and in a better headspace. I feel like taking this class made me gain a better understanding of how I interact with people in the world and how I take up space in my everyday life. Even if you are not at all interested in acting or theater, I definitely recommend taking this class, as it’s a great way to learn more about yourself and possibly try something that you’ve never done before.
1. Multivariable Calculus (MATH-211)
When I began my first semester of college, I was terrified of taking a college-level math course. Despite having taken both AP Calculus AB and BC, I didn’t feel like I was prepared for Multivariable Calculus. When I was picking out what courses I was going to take with my advisor before the start of the semester, I tried to convince him that I should take Intermediate Calculus (MATH-121), despite having been placed into Multivariable Calculus. He eventually convinced me that Multivariable was the right course for me with the reassurance that I could switch classes during the Add/Drop period at the start of the semester. However, I was incredibly glad I decided to take this class. I took this course with Professor Yongheng Zhang, and he is what made this course so special to me. Professor Zhang’s lectures were always clear, easy to follow, and at the perfect pace so that I could keep up without becoming bored or overwhelmed. I loved going to office hours every week, and with Professor Zhang’s help, I was able to succeed in the course. This class is the reason that I decided to major in Mathematics in college. Even if you don’t want to pursue math in the future, I strongly recommend taking this course, as it helps strengthen your critical thinking and problem-solving skills that can then be taken and applied to practically anything!
Honorable Mentions
Picking only three classes to talk about was quite difficult for me, as there are so many classes that I’ve really liked going to. Because of this, I find it necessary to include a few honorable mentions. The first class I’d like to highlight is Contemporary Dance Technique: Intermediate (THDA-117H). I took this class with Sarah Konner, and I absolutely loved her teaching style. Going to this class and working on my improvisation skills and learning new choreography was honestly one of the highlights of my week. The next class is LGBT History in Popular Culture (SWAG-163). I took this class online during our January term break. I loved the conversations we had during this class, and I really appreciated how our professor, Jen Manion, always kept the conversation on track while allowing us to explore other topics that were tangentially related to the main concept we were discussing. I loved the seminar style of this course, and despite it being held over Zoom, I really felt like I got to know my classmates while taking it.
The main thing to remember when picking out classes for your schedule each semester is to choose classes that you are going to enjoy. Classes can be really stressful and a big time commitment, so you want to make sure that you can maintain interest in them throughout the semester and not get burnt out. Also, I recommend trying new things during your time in college. You only have four years of college, so it’s important to really make the most of them. If there’s something that you’ve always wanted to do, now is the time to do it. For almost everything, the longer you wait to do the thing won’t make doing the thing any easier. Now is the time to get out of your comfort zone, explore, and maybe even find a new passion. Life is for the living, so don’t get caught up in only taking classes that you think will make your transcript look good. Get out there and do the things you love!