Final Reflection Blog Post

My partner and I after our Final 
Presentation

Final Reflection

This final assignment made me look back over everything we did this semester, this final really made me realize how different this course is from any other class that I've been in. I remember when I got my schedule in the summer at orientation and honestly, I was skep

tical. My mom really was skeptical about this class just because of the name "Talking About Freedom", we questioned if this course would be important, talk about judging a book by its cover, I didn't even read the course description. Turns out, I was the furthest from right. 

This course turned out to be by far my favorite and most impactful course. One of my other classmates said while presenting how "Mr. Smith made us focus on what was truly important in the real world." and that really stuck with me. Every assignment forced us to think differently, not just memorize dates or events, but actually understand how history, law, communication, and AI to connect into real life.

The Mock Trails

A famous Photograph from the renowned case 
Brown v. The Board of Education

The mock trial experience was one of the moments where everything clicked. Working on the Brown v. Board of Education case and arguing for the Board of Education challenged me more than I expected. I wasn’t just repeating facts; I was building legal arguments based on precedent. I had to see the case through the lens of the law, even if I personally disagreed with the side I was defending. That experience taught me how complicated justice can be and how the legal system actually operates. It also pushed me out of my comfort zone with public speaking and helped me build confidence. 

EOTO Presentations

The EOTO assignment was another game changer. Teaching the class about Nat Turner made the learning feel personal. Researching the topic on my own and then explaining it to everyone else forced me to understand it on a deeper level. Instead of passively listening, the whole class became part of the lesson. Watching my classmates teach their topics also made the room feel more connected and more engaged. It felt like we were all building the knowledge together.

The Usage of AI

Claude AI,  The main source of AI we used
this semester

And then there was AI, something I honestly didn’t expect to be such a big part of a history class. Using Claude AI for research, writing, brainstorming, and organizing my thoughts made the work smoother and more efficient. But the most important part was learning about ethical use. This wasn’t about letting AI do the assignments for us; it was about learning how to use the tool properly, responsibly, and in a way that improves our thinking rather than replaces it. That’s a skill that will follow me into every class and eventually into my career. 

Looking back now, I realize this course taught me more than facts about American history. It taught me how to think critically, how to communicate effectively, how to argue both sides of an issue, how to research smart, and how to use new technology in a professional way. I came into this class with doubts, and I’m leaving it with skills and experiences that actually matter. If anything, this class showed me that sometimes the courses you least expect end up teaching you the most.