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The Beginning of the Middle: My Classes this Winter Term

Inigo runs through the classes he's taking this term

Inigo runs through the classes he's taking this term


Winter is here…

As the end of my second week back comes to an end, I’ve finally settled into a comfortable routine. 7 is wakeup time. 8 to 11 is homework. Then it’s my first class, and the day truly begins.

Being in my second-ever trimester at Carleton, it’s the first time I’ve faced an entirely new batch of classes. Questions swam through my head as I stepped off the Bostonian plane and onto Minnesota soil. What should I expect? Will they be harder than last term? More stressful? Will I fail miserably and resort to working in the coal mines for the rest of my life? All queries we have asked ourselves at some point. 

Snowy day from window
My view from the library, where I get my homework done!

Looking back on it now, my fears were mostly unsubstantiated. Being in a few 200-level classes (as opposed to last term, which were all introductory) means the workload is heavier and expectations are higher—but it’s not unmanageable. As I said before, I thrive in established routines. My early-morning homework sessions have been a lifesaver for getting things done efficiently.

Biology

My first course is Global Change Biology, which is why I can’t say I’m only taking humanities courses this term. The class concerns the complex factors that lead to current environmental issues. It sounds like a depressing class (I know far too much about the horrible effects of global warming now), and to an extent, it is, but it’s also an interesting look into the different facets of ecosystems, how animals can adapt to changing conditions, and even hard science like the carbon cycle.

Philosophy

Ethics is a surprising one for me. Last term, I joined an intro philosophy course on a whim. I had no formal experience—or interest—with the subject before Carleton, but spurred by the insatiable desire to become a great thinker of the 21st century, I decided to give the class a go. I loved it so much that I decided to take another philosophy course this term—Ethics—taught by the same professor! Currently, we’re reading Immanuel Kant’s Metaphysics of Morals and having existential crises on the regular.

Immanuel kant headshot
Kant: a truly handsome figure.

English

My last class is Imperial Adventures, an English course. I was intrigued by the book choice from the start: which included stories by Rudyard Kipling (author of The Jungle Book) and H. Rider Haggard. It’s all about old-school adventure literature: the so-called “Lost World” literary genre. Think King Solomon’s Mines, Tarzan, and Heart of Darkness. Admittedly, the stories show their age. They aren’t the most progressive narratives, with all the “conquering” in them. It’s a genre I’ve never delved into, although I’ve seen its influence everywhere: Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, King Kong, etc. It’s fascinating to see the origin of so many of these classic tropes and look critically at some of these foundational adventure stories and the stereotypes they rely upon.

King solomons mines copy
Our class edition of King Solomon’s Mines.

Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s 10:59. I’ve got to get to class.


Inigo (he/him/his) is trying very hard to turn interests in subjects like filmenglish, and psychology into a manageable course load. Originally from Somerville, Massachusetts, he can often be found running in the Cowling Arboretum (and getting passed by everyone on the cross country team) or rock climbing at the bouldering cave in the evening. He loves Carleton’s walkability: it didn’t even matter that he forgot to bring his bike to campus. He considers bad horror movies to be the ultimate form of entertainment.