I. Intellectual learning

When I first started this course, I honestly thought it would be more about online games and digital content, and possibly even creating games ourselves. Initially, I did not expect it to focus so much on identity, bias, empathy, and understanding others. But after taking the course, I realized it was more meaningful than I expected. It made me think about things that are not just for class, but rather things that actually connect to real life and the way we interact with others every day.

One thing I learned in this course, which I really like, came from The Danger of a Single Story. What stayed with me from that video is the idea that people can never be understood through just one image or one assumption. Everyone has their own story, and sometimes we only see one side and think that is enough. This made me reflect on myself, too, because I realized that I sometimes do this without noticing. Sometimes I form an opinion about someone too quickly, based on very little, and I do not stop to think about what I might be missing.

Another video that really stood out to me was the one about how language shapes the way we think. I liked it a lot because it showed that language is not just a way to communicate, but it can also affect how we experience the world. The example that stayed with me the most was the Aboriginal group that uses north, south, east, and west instead of left and right. That example really surprised me because it showed me that language can shape daily awareness in ways I never thought about before. It made me see language as something much bigger than just words.

The Lina Mounzer reading also stayed with me because it talked about language in relation to suffering and war. What I understood from it is that sometimes words are not enough, and sometimes they even make painful things sound smaller than they really are. That made me think more about how language can affect empathy. If the words we use do not carry the real weight of what people are going through, then others may not fully understand their pain.

The game that affected me most was Spent. I think this was one of the strongest activities because it not only explained the struggle in theory, but it also made me feel some of the pressure behind it. While playing, I had to make difficult choices with limited money, and most of the options did not feel easy or fair. It felt like choosing between one hard option and another. That made me think about how people are often judged for their decisions without others understanding the pressure they are under or how limited their choices really are. This activity helped me understand empathy and inequality in a more real way.

One question I still have is whether we can ever truly understand other people when we have not lived through what they lived through. I do not think we can fully understand someone’s reality, but I do think we can try harder to listen and understand with more honesty. I think Soliya might help me with this because it will let me interact directly with people from different backgrounds and not just think about these ideas in class.

II. Intrapersonal learning

This course also helped me notice things about myself. I realized that I do not always question my first impressions of people. Sometimes I make assumptions too quickly without thinking enough about where those assumptions came from. The idea of the single story especially made me reflect on that. I also noticed that the way I present myself changes depending on who I am talking to. That made me think about identity in a more personal way. I think this will affect my Soliya experience because it will shape how I express myself, but it will also make me more aware of how others may see me.

III. Interpersonal learning

In terms of dealing with people who are different from me, I think the biggest lesson I learned is that listening matters a lot. Respect is important, but real understanding needs more than just being polite. It needs patience, empathy, and being willing to hear someone out without immediately judging them. I also learned that people can feel excluded even when nobody directly means to exclude them. That made me think more carefully about how conversations can feel different depending on a person’s background and experiences. I hope Soliya helps me become better at communicating with people from different cultures.

IV. Middle East Conflicts

If topics like Palestine or the current war in the Middle East came up in Soliya, I think it would be one of the hardest discussions for many people, including me. Not only because the topic is emotional, but also because people may come into the conversation with very different backgrounds, media exposure, and assumptions. I think one of the biggest challenges would be the fear of being misunderstood or reduced to a stereotype, especially when talking about a region that is already highly politicized. If I were able to direct the discussion, I would want it to be a space for honest exchange rather than a debate where people feel like they have to defend everything they believe. I think I would need support through clear discussion boundaries, thoughtful moderation, and an environment where people can speak carefully without feeling attacked. I would want the discussion to stay respectful and balanced, so that people can share their views honestly without the conversation turning hostile.

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