Thomas Grows Up, and I Got an A Woo Hoo

In another bit of shameless self promotion I am going to remind you all about this post from last August. I had just realized that even though I thought I was going to get away with not having to take a class in Thomas Merton in Gradual School, God was making sure that I was still going to have to study Merton anyway. Why? I am still wondering that myself.

Anyway, after a grueling semester reading about Tommy Boy my final assignment was to write a paper discussing aspects of Christian Maturity from the book using what I had learned in the class. I tell you, that paper had me terrified. I started it three, no four times really. I just couldn't get a handle on how to get old Tommy Boy through adolescence. So, I decided to make that my thesis.

The Long Adolescence of Thomas Merton was the title of my paper. My thesis was that his early life was so odd, that he went into adolescence with no coping skills and it took him forever to navigate and complete the tasks necessary to actually move on to adulthood.

Anyway I submitted my paper on Sunday afternoon, and begged my professor to be in a magnanimous mood when he graded it. Without patting myself on the back too much I do want to share a few lines from the email I received with my grade (a 94% Woo Hoo!)

You did a very nice job of narrowing your focus and sticking to it. Consequently, you write with some nice clarity and depth on the subject. You have clearly given your paper a lot of thought and effort. It's gratifying for me to read that you have learned a lot.

pat pat pat

okay I will stop patting myself on the back now. I did learn a lot in that class. In fact I think it was one of the best I have taken so far in Gradual School. But, I am so glad that I am done with Mr. Merton's long adolescence. Goodbye dear Thomas.

Pax