Meta-Reflection

This course has been a great experience for me; I was able to learn more about the area and the culture within it. I loved getting the chance to go out and see different parts of St. Catharines and how it differs from Mississauga. My favourite OOCLO was the one where I listened to Leslie Meisels talk about his perspective of the holocaust. I have always been fascinated with what went on in that time and how Adolf Hitler was able to get enough followers to cause everything that happened. I thought it was an amazing opportunity to go and listen to his firsthand account of the holocaust. I look up to him because he is so strong and so optimistic even after everything he has been through. If I could go listen to his story again, I would go in a heartbeat; I would go and listen as many times as possible so that I could learn as much as I could from his story. This was an academic learning opportunity and I was not able to help anyone, accept myself. After I got home, I told my roommates about Leslie Meisels story and they were fascinated that he went through all that and survived. The most important thing I learned from this OOCLO was that silence is not standing up for anyone; silence is siding with the enemy. I will always remember Leslie Meisels’s story because it made such an impact on me.

Through this class, I have learned a lot about myself and about others as well. I met a guy in this class named Danny, now he is one of my close friends. I find it really hard to talk to people because I am fairly shy at first.  This is something that I have worked on this semester through this class. Each OOCLO has made me talk to different people so I have taken that chance to open up more and become less shy. This is something I will continue working on and going out in the community and talking to people is a great way to do it. I have met so many different people through this class and the opportunities that have arisen. However, it is hard for me to go up and talk to strangers but I know that if I continue to try that it will be very satisfying. I know it will be satisfying because it allows me to get to know more people and get to know their stories. Therefore, this class has helped me become a better person and help others along the way.