Reflective Essay

Detroit has been my home for eighteen years. Prior to this course, I had experiential knowledge of
what it was like to be a resident of the city but I lacked knowledge about the city itselfhow it formed, the
reasoning behind its current condition, and where it is going. I took pride in the fact that I could say I was a
Detroiter, yet there was no substance behind my claim. There was no depth in my words because I didnt
really have an understanding of what Detroit was (and is), where it stands, and what it means on a broader
scale. Enrolling in Honors 1000, although it was a requirement, was an enlightening experience, to say the
least. I found myself not only learning about the standard history of Detroit, but also abstract (yet
meaningful) concepts that related to that conventionally taught history. This brought another level of depth
to my education of the city.
I did enjoy my time in Honors 1000 but it is an understandingly challenging course. Abstract
concepts such as ways of seeing and BKE can be hard to comprehend but with the connections made in
the lecture and discussion (by relating these concepts to tangible urban forms) the curriculum became
more understandable. The aspect of this course that I enjoyed the most was how connective the lecture
was, in terms of the content. Tocquevilles observation of how standardized Americans were related to
Fords English School graduation of homogeneous students walking off the stage. This extended to the
image of the Jeffersonian grid, in that each square was like the one next to it. On a broader scale, this
displayed the outlookboth literally and figurativelyof suburban America, which Americans chose. Ive
always been a visual and connective learner, so in order for me to understand a concept I need to see how
it connects to something else on a larger scale.
Although Ive heard many complaints about this course, I stand as an opposing other who
thoroughly and honestly enjoyed the class. Perhaps it was because the content was personal to me as a
Detroiter, or because I simply enjoy history, analysis, critical thought, and significant discussions. Whatever
the reason may be, I can say that I comprehended and effectively learned throughout this semester. This
class has helped me become a more analytical learner. The combination of lecture and discussion was a
perfect balance in that lecture was more conceptual, and discussion was more hands on. Lecture helped
me understand the connection between the content, while discussion prompted me to question my
existing ideas and explore alternative thoughtsessentially to critically think. Although I am not fullfledged Detroit scholar, there is a considerable level of understanding I have now that I didnt have before.