Boundaries

I have had Dr. Olga Maria Cruz-Smock for 3 different classes since I have been at Bellarmine. Last semester was my best experience with her in an IDC 200 class called Women's Ways of Knowing. It was a class with only women discussing many different aspects of the ways of the world and today's society. It proved to help me grow as a person and even to better communicate with my peers. Even though Dr. Cruz is a teacher at BU, I see her as a friend as well. It is nice to have that kind of a relationship with a teacher because it is someone that I can definetely trust not to repeat anything I say, unlike friends I have. Although I have friends to trust, I still feel there is that chance of repeating something I have disclosed with them.

Dr. Cruz took it upon herself during the semester during our IDC class to have all of us over to her house for dinner. It was a very nice evening with all of us continuing discussions from class, getting to know each other's lives outside of school. It proved to help us bond better in class and was a great evening of laughter and fun. I do not know very many teachers who invite their entire class over for dinner (especially when they are the ones cooking!)

After the IDC class was over, my class was disappointed. None of us wanted the semester to end. Dr. Cruz came up with the idea to have a bookclub. A book by John Townsend and Henry Cloud called Boundaries, discussing when to say no and when to say yes in life's little obstacles. I have had a great experience so far in this book club. There are only about five or six of us which helps the honesty to come about with a little more ease. In class, I still felt like a few people were holding back, just because there was so many of us.

Once every month, our small group gets together and discusses the concepts told in Boundaries and my experience has been very enlightening. I have similar issues that some of the other women have and it helps to know that I am not the only one, even though that may sound kind of silly. It is always nice to know that you are not alone, at least for me anyway. I have learned to look at myself in a better light and accept my weaknesses and try to change them. This was hard for me in the past because I do not like to look at my weaknesses, but now I have learned it is a good thing.

While some college students may feel that a book club is a waste of time, I beg to differ. It is a nice break from the everyday reading that we must do for regular classes at school. It gives my brain a nice break, not to mention some nice insights on my life and the changes I need to make. I have discovered that book clubs are not nerdy or for those who do not have anything better to do, but for those people who just want something more out of the college experience.