At MIT, learning is likened to “drinking from the firehose”, an expression that attests to the rather immense amount of information students here chug down in a relatively small amount of time. Although “drinking from the firehose” can be overwhelming at times, after two semesters and ten classes at MIT, I’ve discovered how exciting and enlightening learning can be. Some classes even influenced my interests and revamped how I approach life.

As a first-year student, my classes were mostly either GIRs (General Institute Requirements) or HASS (Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences) requirements because well, they’re required. I did squeeze in two intro CS courses though, since I was pretty set on studying computer science. I’ll save my thoughts on GIRs for another post when I’ve completed them, as I’ll be able to provide a more thorough reflection then. In this post, I’ll focus on the HASS classes I took my freshman year, because they were especially eye-opening. I can say that I wouldn’t be the person I am today, if it weren’t for the HASS classes I took so far.

Unlike GIRs and even courses for specific majors (aka the technicals), HASS classes (aka the non-technicals) are generally more flexible. There is a broad selection of HASS classes to choose from, and HASS classes are further categorized into HASS-H (Humanities), HASS-A (Arts), or HASS-S (Social Sciences). For both semesters of freshman year, I took HASS-A classes, namely MAS.110 Fundamentals of Computational Media Design and 21M.600 Introduction to Acting.

I took MAS.110 in my first semester as part of the Media Arts Sciences Freshman Year Program at the Media Lab. It was an incredible experience as I got to explore the intersection between technology, art, and design and cultivate my creative side. To be honest, I didn’t really understand what the title of the course – Fundamentals of Computational Media Design – meant initially. It just sounded very cool. And it was! I got to learn about typography, familiarize myself with different styles of art, play around with Scratch, and explore various forms of audio/visual expression – from cameras to musical instruments to computer graphics. This was the first actual art class I have taken, so I found it refreshingly intriguing. I did have to step outside my comfort zone a couple times because the class involved a lot of participation – reading essays out loud and giving/receiving critique, presenting project ideas and finished projects, and sharing thoughts from readings. As the semester progressed however, I let my passion for my projects and curiosity overcome my fears of not being coherent/eloquent in my presentations and impostor syndrome, which is actually a very real thing at MIT. Because of MAS.110, I’ve discovered my fascination with lines and string art, a new obsession with how code, art, and design work together, and a deep appreciation of music as a powerful medium of expression.

Based on recommendations from a few upperclassmen about which HASS classes to take and some luck, I lotteried into 21M.600 second semester (it’s a very popular HASS-A class at MIT). I had never taken theater classes before, so 21M.600 was a really new experience for me. One thing that surprised me was how physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding acting is. There’s way more to acting than memorizing lines of text, which was my initial conception of acting. We spent the first 20 minutes of every class “warming-up” – stretching and yoga – and then a good 40 minutes of partner/group exercises that involved physical activity in silence or vocal activity often accompanied with physical activity. These exercises were very out of my comfort zone at first, because a key thing to these exercises was acting/reacting on impulse (less thinking), and I usually like to think extensively before I act or voice my opinion. But these exercises allowed me to really free my mind, something I needed especially during stressful days. I also became more comfortable in my own body and more aware of myself and my surroundings. I realized the importance of committing to actions and learned to make connections through “inner images” and “countdowns”. For the first time in my life, I learned to embrace myself as an artist who is capable of controlling my interactions with other people and objects in a calculated yet creative manner. Now I feel much more comfortable expressing myself, and I pay more attention to how I carry myself and how others carry themselves.

It’s hard to imagine how just two classes can influence me so much – and non-technical classes at a technical school at that. I’m so glad I took these classes as they’ve helped me gain new perspectives on life, both in an intellectual sense and a psychological sense. Drinking from the firehose can be so enriching, and I’m looking forward to what’s in store for me in the fall! :)

From the muse in me,

~ marG