After a cavalcade of icy weather keeping us shut in, my group managed to pull through and create a presentation and essay that I am very proud of. The amount of teamwork and discussion that went into putting this project together was very much outside my comfort zone, but I enjoyed the whole process. The method of group selection frightened me at first. I typically am very quiet around those I don't often hang out with. I'm fine with perfect strangers, and great with friends, but have trouble with acquaintances. However, taking this plunge had a huge payoff. I found that our ideas meshed wonderfully. There was a feeling of excitement when I got together with my group, no longer anxiety.
I learned how to communicate my ideas and not feel like I'm being pushy. Even if I barely say a thing, I often feel like my group does not want my input. But we were able to speak like friends and allowed me to voice my opinions and feel listened to. And I listened back when Erica or Lindsay had an idea, and they were pretty much always spot on with my ideas as well. Even if they weren't we worked to compromise and find a happy medium. It taught me how to be comfortable. I think that this experience showed me how my anxiety has improved and only improved it further.
The theme for this week is accomplishment.

Ironically, during the week of the church's Epiphany, my group had our own small one regarding Macbeth and how to write about it. A visitor from the university, Professor McDurmott, came to help us understand the material we are analysing. Her area of expertise is focused on Old English literature, especially Shakespeare. When we told her that our critique is from a feminist theory point of view, she instantly knew that we were going to use Lady Macbeth as our main example. From there, she gave us a historical context for her character.
The play was written for the King of England at the time, James VI and I. He had taken over after Queen Elizabeth, whom the people of England had great respect for. However, James was what one could call a misogynist. First, he had a very strained relationship with his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots. He takes over the crown from a sole female ruler that was loved by her people. And finally, he was a closetted bisexual. All the while, he must portray his family as a fairytale. He employs Shakespeare to create a propaganda of sorts. Lady Macbeth is a symbol of Queen Elizabeth. The Macduff family (how a family ought to be) is supposed to represent James' family. The play is intensely critical of female power, just like James himself.
The theme for this week was research.