Learning Experiences - Part 3

Finals exams are finally approaching, and I wanted to take this time to look back and reflect upon my learning experiences in the classroom thus far during this spring semester at TCU. I will divide my reflections by particular course and present them in the order in which I attend each class during the week.

We have done quite a bit of reading in this final block of Literature and Civilizations II. We read about John Hughes's vacation, Nora Ephron talked to us about breasts, and Dave Barry gave us some dating advice. We also read A River Runs Through It, which is the story of how Norman Maclean strengthens his relationships with his family and God through fly fishing on the Blackfoot River. I also did my final presentation video on A River Runs Through It. I talked about how technology is ruining our lives. As I prepare to write my final essay for this class, I look back at all of the useful knowledge I have gained. This hasn't been like any other class that focuses on one subject. This class has taught me about life. It has allowed me to gain a greater understanding of this thing everyone goes through. I got to make new friends, even a few from different countries. And I laughed quite a bit along the way. It has been an awesome semester in Lit and Civ II.

In Financial Management, we wrapped up the semester by talking about financial decisions: how to make the decisions and the risk that goes with them. We discussed how the capital market system works, where businesses go to borrow money. We also learned about the profession of investment banking and all it entails. Finally, we ended with a brief overview of international finance. I have learned a lot in Financial Management. The knowledge I gained here will be the foundation that helps me succeed in all my future finance classes.

We spent the last few weeks in Organizational Management discussing decision-making strategies, leadership styles, power and politics in the workplace, and organizational culture. We also wrapped up our group project of assisting people in need and presented it to the class. This course has given me the tools that I can use in my future job to be an effective employee/manager.

The eighth and final year of managing our sensor company has come to an end. We spent the last month in Foundations in Business writing an Annual Report for our stockholders as well as preparing a presentation for our Board of Directors that discusses how our company has preformed over the past eight years. Our goal was to be rehired as the management team. This class has given me a great hands-on experience of what it is like to run an actual company.

The final block of Business Law covered the topics of agency and employment law. We discussed employment discrimination as well as intellectual property. The information learned in this course will allow me to run my future business in line with the law. I now will also be able to effectively defend myself in the workforce.

This semester has been a great one. I have learned so much that will benefit me in life. And as this term comes to a close, I look forward to the next.