"When the student is ready...the lesson appears." Gene Oliver ...Story of my life. Actually, while searching for the exact wording of this quote, I stumbled upon many other insightful sayings about learning and school but this still seemed to be the most appropos for the story of my education. Growing up in a household full of books and a teacher for a mother, who was always correcting my brother's and my speech, I developed an early appreciation for school and learning. I always strove to do my best and get good grades. Yet, the older I got, this appreciation languished as my desire to become an actress intensified. I still wanted to learn, but only the specific craft of acting. I soon realized after an attempt at studying theatre, that I might not be suited for all that it entailed. Flustered to pursue a new vocation, I quickly decided upon a degree in Art. Just as quickly, it seems, I churned out dozens of paintings, drawings, and sculptures and received my degree. However, when it was all over, I couldn't seem to remember learning anything...or at least I couldn't comprehend what I'd been taught. For three years I wandered aimlessly about in the world trying to find answers to questions I didn't yet know I had. Something was missing in my life and I wanted to find it. Enter Literary Analysis and Professor Berry. In what may seem a shameless attempt to brownnose, I must honestly confess that my first experience in a classroom upon returning to school has been ,by far, the most substantial and impressionable. In that class I learned to read! For the first time in all my years of reading, I became completely engrossed in a book--in the story, the characters and all the subtexts. I began to think about such things in an abstruse manner as I listened to the professor and other students share their own thoughts and opinions about a text. I felt Professor Berry's knowledge and passion for the subject begin to incite me. I also realized that my lifetime obsession with language had a purpose and that I could apply that obsession in a creative way, while still working to improve my mind. Mostly what I learned, and continue to learn, are things about myself and the person I am and becoming. Many students may assert that their personal growth happens in a social, rather than an academic setting. I believe, however, that academia is such a large part of my life and my passion for learning is so intense that I could not possibly separate personal growth from the classroom. My views on politics, religion, sociology, psychology, and life in general, are in a constant state of metamorphosis depending on how the things I read affect me. Perhaps if I had decided on an degree in math (God forbid!) these changes might not have occurred. Perhaps if I had not begun my path toward an education in English with Professor Berry and the 380 class in particular, my enthusiasm might not be so strong. What I know is that the student is ready and the lesson is being learned.