Appreciating Others, Reflecting on Myself Anonymous

It's 2:45 on a Friday afternoon. I’m sitting in my Honors Humanities class, discussing the “Weltanschauung” of the Ancient Greeks. In a few weeks we’ll have moved on to exegesis analysis of the story of Job. When the bell rings, signaling the start of the weekend, nobody moves. Class doesn’t end until the discussion has finished, and the conversation continues out into the hall as people leave.

Taking my first Socratic seminar-style class was intimidating at first; until I learned the educational benefits of critiques, I feared the criticism of my peers. In that class, I learned to track a discussion and evaluate the merits of my classmate’s arguments to benefit the group. This developed my ability to think critically and consider the quality of my own work. Holding a common critical standard elevates the quality of the class and builds a community of mutual respect and intellectual appreciation.

Learning for the common good is what I wish to pursue at Bowdoin. I plan to use my intellectual abilities to serve others. My critical (and compassionate) eye will contribute to a high standard of learning at Bowdoin. Being able to give and receive critical feedback allows me to hold a high standard of appreciation, one that will...