One of the most influential classes I have taken during my college career is the Honors World Politics class I took as a sophomore. This 'final memo' assignment details what I learned in the class and how it has impacted my decision to study Psychology and Social Science.

1. Throughout the semester, Comparative World Politics allowed me to reflect on not only myself
but the world around me with each meeting. One of the most beneficial takeaways of the class was the
class discussions. I was nervous at first but at the same time I was eager to hear the various opinions of
my peers. I told myself the first day of class that I would be vocal and break out my little comfort bubble I
created for myself. However, I had already failed to do so by the second week of class. Despite my innate
shyness, I always took something from every conversation. It was a breath of fresh air to hear from people
I could relate to like my classmates. Whether it was age, opinions, or just simply being students- I had
something in common with everyone in the class. On the other hand, everyone was able to bring new
ideas and perspectives to the table. There is a vulnerability that comes with sharing one’s beliefs and
insights. We were able to openly express ourselves. Politics often evoke emotional responses-or at least
passionate ones. We discussed the livelihood of the citizens of our own country and the basic human
rights of those from another.
Lijphart’s Patterns of Democracy, explored the different types of governments and the
functions/purposes of each. Reading that along with Why Bother With Elections allowed for me to better
wrap my head around the inner workings of our own government. Patterns of Democracy was likely the
most difficult of the books to get through. And by get through, I mean skim. It was choppy and failed to
really grab my attention. It was the class discussions that really helped me to understand what Lijphart
was talking about. He uses forms of governments in place globally today and historically to provide
examples. This allowed me to tie together what I already knew about the governments of some countries
and current events to how exactly that country is functioning. In Why Bother With Elections, we basically
looked at why we use elections and concluded that the process will never be perfect- and it never has
been. The Girl With Seven Names and A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea were emotional looks into
some serious social issues. Both books were similar in that they allowed us to get a new perspective. The
Girl Girl With Seven Names was hard to read because I had always heard so much about the toxic system
in place in Asian countries like Korea. However, Hyeonseo Lee’s story was one that seemed so fictional
and unbelievable. Reading the previous books also put into perspective how a nation like North Korea

2. could come into such power like they have. The Girl With Seven Names made me think of the society in
America. The value of a knowledgeable public is something that can often be overlooked especially in the
United States. But the reality is, our freedom to question our government is something we hold close.
Finally, In a hope More Powerful than the Sea, the refugee crisis was brought under an emotional light.
The idea that things stick when there is a face ties with is it proven for me through Doaa’s story. I was
marveled at the lack of attention this specific shipwreck incident seemed to receive. But, in hindsight,
there are so many other’s stories that have yet to be shared. Examining a refugees life personally like we
did Doaas, was, I think, imperative to understanding the crisis. These people are just that.. People. Like
us. They deserve a safe place to raise their children and go school.
The semester’s line of guest speakers and films was a unique, yet beneficial anekdote to the class.
Dr. Norell’s inclusion of real life examples into our topics really drew everything together effectively.
The most impactful of which, came from hearing Katerina chat with us via video. This meeting was so
powerful because of the first hand experience Katerina has had with refugees. She highlighted the “shared
humanity” we all experience. She was so well spoken and addressed each of out classmates so well. She
touched on several thing through her chat, but she emphasized the idea of allowing refugees to “thrive not
just survive.” This means going beyond the bare minimum when providing for the people who have been
forced from their homes. Hearing from Katerina after reading A Hope More Powerful than the sea also
provided more perspective on humanitarian issues in general. Humanizing those around us is a vital step
in working to solve these issues. Also, from the speakers like Mar Lopez, I took away the importance of
talking about these issues. As a (now) informed being on these social issue topics, I now have a duty to
tell others and raise awareness of things that I am passionate about.
Films like Inequality For All delved into the crisis occurring inside our own borders. The film
was moving in that I was left exceptionally helpless by the time it was over. The unequal distribution of
wealth in America impacts our ability to demonstrate democratic values. Our own citizens are often at the
whim of billionaires and corporations who make decisions for the lower classes of America. The film is
directed towards the everyday person-it is in plain language and easy to understand. I also feel like after

3. watching, that no matter your stance on capitalism or a free market- you ultimately cannot deny that the
gap between the classes is a huge issue and it IS happening. My attendance of Winter On Fire also acted
as an extremely informational source. The film, although heart wrenching, really allowed me to better
understand much of the problems facing those of repressive regimes. It also helped me understand the
role of Russia in the middle east prior to reading Red Notice.
The most stressful part of the semester actually turned out to be the simulations. On the other
hand they also ignited some of my favorite debates. The simulations requirements to speak in class
initially resulted in some anxiety. This, in turn, often overshadowed some of my preparation for the
simulation as the idea of talking is something I just do not enjoy (unfortunate character flaw.) I was also
just stressed because the simulation required to make decisions that could save lives or societies. This is
some heavy stuff we were handling and the different ways of going about it consumed me. However, I
think the number one thing I was able to take from the simulation assignments is the self discovery I
made within myself. Throughout the research process for each simulation, I was introduced to the
incredibly naive side of me. I want to solve these things without any use of violence or weapons. I have
always been extremely anti military and essentially a pacifist by most standards of the word. However,
each simulation caused me to question myself a bit more than I was comfortable doing. This was a hard
thing for me to do but the discussions of the crisis at hand forced me to do just that. I had to put aside my
distaste for weapons and violence and understand that at this point in time in the world- it is extremely
hard to solve things that way. I was forced to come to terms with my innate naive nature- and as
uncomfortable as I hate to admit it was, I think that was vital to really understand the issues we debated.
Finally, the weekly memos and letters was something I had yet to experience in a class before.
The ability to connect one on one with my peers and really digest their point of views. The concept of this
is something I actually would like to see from more professors. They caused me to digest what I had just
experienced in a week or so of class. It made it extremely hard to ignore things in class. I enjoyed the
connections of reading someone’s thoughts without any fear of backlash that one may experience in a

4. class setting. Although, at times, I cursed the assignments and my lack of careful thought I sometimes put
into them- I always was enthused to reply to my classmates.
My final semester at Chattanooga State proved to be the most grueling but most humbling. I am
leaving feeling drained-but accomplished. I was forced to constantly remind myself of my humanness. I
have always loved people and wanted to help them. This class had the effect in rebooting me each week. I
walked in to class each afternoon and was reminded of the wars people are fighting in different parts of
the world. People are fighting for safety, human rights, and their children's future. Suddenly my own
battles seemed so insignificant. It reminded me why I should continue to care about the things I had
always cared about. It was a semester that humbled me with each group discussion, film, or book; and it
was a semester that awoke an eagerness in me.