Books and beaches: What classes are KPU students taking this summer?

​With the summer in full swing, some Kwantlen Polytechnic University students are deep into their semester courses.

From classes about Canadian history to Shakespeare and contemporary poetry, here are the courses three KPU students are taking.

Nicole Opong-Agarye

Opong-Agarye is a third-year creative writing student taking three summer classes: ENGL 3305: Film Theory, ENGL 3356: Contemporary Poetry, and ENTR 3010: Entrepreneurial Visioning.

“I took classes so I can have lighter semesters during the year and spread it out, so I’m not overwhelmed by schoolwork,” Opong-Agarye says. “I’m a creative writing major, so [when] a creative writing class that I need for my degree is open, I have to take it.”

She says that she has enjoyed the Entrepreneurial Visioning course because she and a few students started a non-profit, and that it has been helpful in managing the business.

Opong-Agarye adds that she also likes KPU’s poetry classes because they help her understand and look at the world.

“You really have to be on top of keeping track of when courses you need for your degree are going to be open to make sure you don’t end up delaying your graduation, so I make sure to stay on top of those,” says Opong-Agyare.

Emma Marsden

Marsden is a fourth-year history student taking two courses this semester: HIST 1114: Forged in Fire: Canada since 1867 and HIST/ASIA 3150: East Asian Immigrants to North America.

“I chose HIST 1114 because I think it’s important to understand Canada’s modern history and how it has and continues to shape Canadian society, politics, and economics. I’ve learned a lot about how to analyze primary sources involving modern Canadian issues,” Marsden wrote in a statement to The Runner.

She chose to take HIST/ASIA 3150 “to diversify [her] main focus within [her] history stream.”

“I enjoy taking classes in the summer because it allows me to take a lighter course load during the rest of the year while still getting in my final credits,” Marsden wrote.

Isabelle Reader

Third-year English student Reader is enrolled in two summer classes: ENGL 3320: Shakespeare and ENGL 4700: Special Topics in Literature.

Reader’s special topics class made her realize that there is more to the legend of King Arthur, adding that there are many legends that she did not know about until she took this course.

“It’s really been eye-opening to see how much more complex the legend itself can be, which is neat and not at all what I expected,” Reader says.

For her Shakespeare course, Reader adds that her instructor, Gavin Paul, is engaging and everyone is keen to participate.

“I honestly thought that I was [going to] sleep in that class, but [Paul] … is my saving grace,” Reader says. “There’s something about his dry humour that keeps everybody involved and engaged … and I’m still digesting what [has] happened in class.”

She adds that she takes summer courses because she’s itching to finish her studies at KPU.

“Having the summer semester helps me keep my mental health in check, where there’s no questions or doubts. The workload is manageable,” Reader says.