The Beginning Middle and End

The Beginning

To first reflect on a semester’s work, I need to take you back to the beginning. I have been immersed in the world of architecture for almost seven years. All I wanted to do from a young age was draw for a living, as I have never been one for words. When I first came to Newcastle University, I mistakenly chose a studio led by a wacky professor and a poet. I was asked to write in ways I never had and was reluctant to do so. I have always feared the written word; being a raging dyslexic means letters are my kryptonite. But after some time in the studio, I came to enjoy the poetry, and the reading tasks evolved from pain to pleasure.

When I first discovered we had to write these blogs, the same sense of dread ran down the back of my neck. Knowing that any of my fellow peers could read my writing and comment on my work was a daunting prospect, and the fact that anyone on the internet could see my spelling mistakes or my comical misjustices to grammar was a thought I didn’t dare think about.

Middle

Instead of shying away from this challenge, I decided to face it head-on, putting my biography online to chain me to my word. I began by attending every 9 am lecture. Some lectures left me with more questions than answers, some were more interesting than others, and some were genuinely fascinating. Sustainable transport and smart cities stood out to me and became the focus of my blogs.

I decided to write my posts as if I were listening to a debate and hearing the arguments presented by the defence and prosecution. Whilst no one can ever be impartial to a debate, I allowed my research to guide me before jumping to conclusions. I presented all my sources and quoted my statistics’ so my readers could come to their own conclusions.

And End

Reading my colleagues ‘ thoughts and opinions on my work was a humbling experience. It provided insight into how they preserve the urban realm by highlighting cultural differences and experiences from their own lives. Reading other students’ blogs helped expand my knowledge on topics like Child-friendly urban design and Sustainable Transport in China.

Upon writing this reflection, I have come to see the knowledge I have gained from this semester from both my colleagues and the staff leading the lectures and debates. It has been a challenge to complete blogs on time and find relevant sources to back up my posts, but I have done my best, and I hope you, the reader, have learned something new too.