A lot of my parents’ friends remark to them, “Wow! With all Elizabeth does, how can she have time to go to class?” And the more I think about it, the more I understand why they think that. Too often, I only write about my life in terms of extracurriculars, parties, and events. But I am here to get a degree, right? So I promise I do go to class sometimes. Here’s a run-down of my classes this semester!
This semester, I’m taking five classes: level 3 Spanish; classics of ethics, politics, and economics; political economy of poverty alleviation; lobbying and the law; and listening to music.
This is my last semester of having to take Spanish, and honestly, I couldn’t be more happy about that. Spanish meets every single day Monday through Friday, there’s homework every night, and I’m not good at speaking in foreign languages. So one last semester and then I never have to discuss my weekend with a professor in a foreign language on a Monday morning ever again!
I was admitted to major in ethics, politics, and economics last year. It’s an interdisciplinary major that’s similar to the Public Policy major at Ole Miss for those of you from Mississippi. Classics of EPE is one of the required seminars for the major. A lot of the reading is similar to what I did freshman year in Directed Studies, but it’s still interesting. Later on, there are some writers we’ll read that I didn’t read in DS, so I’m looking forward to that.
Political Economy of Poverty Alleviation is an EPE seminar as well. It discusses different places’ efforts at poverty alleviation and attempts to answer why some places have been so much more successful than others. I’d say a majority of the class is international students who bring a perspective on poverty in developing countries, and I’m one of the very few with experience with American, first-world poverty.
Lobbying and the Law is a residential college seminar, which means it is a class that is taught by somebody who wouldn’t normally teach at Yale. This lobbying class is taught by a lobbyist from Atlanta who practices both in the Atlanta Capitol and in DC. I’m really interested in the regulation of citizen involvement in politics (I think my concentration in EPE will be something along those lines), and therefore, this lobbying class is a great fit for me. I am hopeful they will allow me to make it count towards my EPE concentration as well.
Listening to Music is a lecture course that’s basically a history of western music with a little bit of music theory mixed in. I’ve really enjoyed this class. It’s just something a bit different than the rest of my classes, and I feel like I can more enjoy classical music now.
Just thought I’d give y’all a little snapshot of my classes this semester! I’ll update y’all on anything especially interesting I learn in them.
Can’t wait to come home for Fall Break in less than a month! If you’re in Jackson in October, I would love to see you!
Lots of Love!
Southern Belle at Yale
