For my final post...

I just wanted, like Shelly, to reflect on what I have taken form this class. Coming in with no background in Asian American studies at all, I felt initially like I struggled to relate to the authors' experiences. I feel now that I have seen several persepectives on what it means to be an Asian American. So many of the texts we read touched on ideas that I think are relevent to more than this class-- like race, gender, sexuality. As mentioned earlier, I think that the most recent novel we read was most enlightening and most enjoyable. There is something about the innocent child's voice drawing attention to the flaws within our society that rings more true to the reader than any other perspective.

I think this class has really broadened my horizons in terms of awareness. The brief discussion we had about the Virginia Tech tragedy got me thinking about how ideas we read about so much, whether it be about Asians or other ethnicities and races, are still so prominent in society today. I certainly noticed how the blame was shifted to an Asian student, but I did not initially see it the same way many others in the class did-- I didn't see the immigrant prejudice (for lack of a better term) right away. But as I followed up more and more, I started to notice things that I don't think I might have noticed before.

For that, I thank everyone in this class for their opinions and thoughts. Thanks again to the seniors for their advice.... you're almost graduates! I hope to see you all again next fall.