Nearing the end of the semester, I’ve come to realize that I am a decent writer. I wouldn’t have thought this at the beginning of the semester due to prior stigmas I held against myself, coming from a non-English background entering the literary world. Before I learned about the idea of interdisciplinarity and how every academic setting cross-cuts one another someway somehow, I believed that people from different institutions belonged to themselves to avoid conflict amongst the intellects. I’ve come to understand that this narrative is just not true. I’ve also come to appreciate the work I’ve presented in my time here in this English course as a whole.
First, let me unpack what I’ve learned about interdisciplinarity and how we, scholars and students alike, interact with it on a daily basis. Interdisciplinarity by Joe Moran debunks the argument of how modern academic institutions from different backgrounds shouldn’t distance themselves from one another since they were all derived from the same origin of learning. I will admit that I followed this sort of separatist mentality, coming from a Political Science and Black Studies background, but that shouldn’t be since I utilize English in every aspect of my academic career! However, I’ve come to learn and appreciate the relationship between my discipline, the English department, and of all majors as a whole. Before, I used to think that the way politics are in this current climate could never compare to literary works like the ones we’ve read in class. After deep consideration, it was apparent to me that even the authors we’ve learned about possess multiple academic backgrounds, which reflect in their works, so who’s to say that there isn’t a connection to be made in everything we encounter?
I will admit that I do know why I’ve always been so harsh on myself when it comes to writing. Sure, I hold my accomplishments to letter grades on papers, but now I know that doesn’t mean the work I did isn’t worthy of any praise either. This self-doubt probably started because I didn’t receive any credit from the A.P. English exams I took in high school that still haunt me everytime I attempt to answer any given writing prompt- but I shouldn’t let these things defy me. Being in college and taking a course that is a requirement more so for English folks has opened up so many opportunities for me to be more appreciative and accepting of what I contribute on a daily basis. Whether it’s having group discussions or reading books that I would’ve never considered to pick up given my major has really helped me grow not only as a student but as an individual as well.
This epistemophilic breakthrough made me even more proud of the growth I’ve had in my work this semester. Not only was my previous mindset coming from a place of uneducated connotations, but I’m also glad that I was able to overcome doubts that I had about myself. I will admit that this being my last blog post of the semester is quite short, but I’m content with the work I’ve presented on this platform. Hopefully, I can be more appreciative of the work of other writers and feel like I too can exist within the same field as them.