March 2021

1. So far for my research I have made a sutori, planned out my strategy on how Pinelake College is a community, and conducted interviews/attended PL College to answer some of the questions that I have surrounding it.
2. I still need to touch up my interview process and I need to come up with a plan on how I am going to get the word out about Pinelake College and truly exemplify and show people how exactly to become a part of this community.
3. I don’t think I really have any concerns regarding my research at the moment! Sometimes it can be a bit challenging to find information/research on my topic or regarding my topic but other than that it is going great!
4. So far, all of my research has gone pretty good. I was a little confused on what exactly a scholarly source was so I did not do to great on my MP 2, however, now I know a bit more about it and I know what to look for in the future. My research has really shown that it is not just Ann Johns or in class that we talk about having a discourse community and the importance of it. In fact, a lot of my research has shown a lot of people talk about it and see it as something really important to have in life! It was really refreshing to see how many people agreed with the research that I was doing that being a part of a community, more specifically being a part of a church community is really important and can be extremely beneficial to your life. Overall, I am really happy with the research that I have done so far and I have found out a lot more details about the importance of a discourse community and seen a lot more perspectives to it that I never would have thought of before!

On Wednesday, March 10, I attended Pinelake College and talked to a few fellows as well as chatted with a well known resident of Pinelake College. I also was able to experience, like I do every other Wednesday night, Pinelake College for myself.

Some of the research I acquired was:

Q: Is it easy to get involved at Pinelake College and what are ways people who are interested in joining this discourse community can do to get involved?

A: It is super easy to get involved! At the end of each Pinelake College session, there are numbers that you can contact to get involved at PL College, as well as at the end when we are dismissed, there is a station in the back room with people who can provide further information on PL College and what you can do to become a volunteer.

Q: How has PL College changed your life?

A: PL College has given so many opportunities that would not have been possible before it. Many people have become part of their missionary program which is not only helping those in Oxford, but actually allows you to travel all over the world preaching about what it is Pinelake stands for. It has also given many mission work opportunities in places like Belize, India, etc!

Q: Is Pinelake College considered a community?

A: Absolutely. Pinelake College has made so many people feel truly apart of something. Just watching the staff and many who are apart of the staff at Pinelake College has shown that having a community is possible and is something that is so needed in your life. Pinelake College has made so many people feel like they are at home, from working on the work crew, to simply sitting in the crowd, you never feel alone.

I know for a fact that Pinelake College has always made me feel like I have a community and people to fall back on, however hearing other peoples stories on how they got involved at Pinelake College and hearing how they truly feel involved in a community while at PL shows that its not just me who feels this way, its everyone!