Reflection Essay

When I first started this class I had no idea what to expect, I was nervous since this was my first college English class. After the first couple of classes, I realized I did not have anything to worry about. You were a great teacher that I got along with well. When we had our conference projects mid-semester I was feeling very good about what the second half of the semester.

At the start of interviewing my father, Henry, about maturing into adulthood while in college, he sat down wearing his usual thick glasses, blue starched polo shirt, fresh boot-cut jeans, and bright facial expression; he wanted to share his past with his son in hopes of teaching me lessons from his experiences. When I asked questions, he, as always, answered with much confidence. I soon came to realize that this trait was caused by his college days where he obtained self-reliance. To understand his journey, we must observe the phases that took him to his current state.

As a Junior at Downtown Magnets High School I took two AP courses that were AP Spanish Language & AP U.S History along with my regular courses like Mathematics, Science, English, and etc. It was not until I entered my AP U.S. History class that I really learned about All nighters and the use energy drinks and Coffee. I don’t like to Fail but to succeed one must learn what failure feels like to better their understanding of how to Succeed. I “technically” passed the first semester of the Course with a Solid “D” but that did not satisfy me since I knew that I deserved better after all the Time and work I put in to studying two days before each quiz and test. I did not understand that time and effort did not lead to success.

1.0 Prepare an individual reflective submission demonstrating awareness of academic skills required for your learning journey.

In this class we have a credo, and in that credo there are some key words that were capitalized: Read, Think, Write, College Level, rigorously, Holistically, Learning, Safe, and Fun. Everyone has their own way of defining words, some maybe the same and some may be different but that’s ok. In this essay I am going to thoroughly and efficiently explain to you in my own words what each of these words mean to me in the context of this course.

As a 14 year old reader and writer, I never saw a true significance in the subjects. I would often become flustered and overwhelmed when forced to do a writing assignment. I just couldn’t understand why I was being forced to perform a task that, in my opinion, made no impact on the world around me. However, my Sophomore year, my perception began to change. I had begun taking an Advanced Placement World History class. This class made a big impact on me as a reader and a writer for many reasons. Although, I can’t recall every lesson I was taught during the course of this class, but what I can recall is a much more impactful lesson. The lesson that continues to shape how I view literacy and the modern world.

I believe that existence is dependent on connections. Life only exists in ecosystems where energies are undoubtedly interrelated but I think as humans we often overlook the significant beauty of our ecosystem. I’ve learned that the three most important types of connections we make are relationships with other beings, the understanding of ourselves, and deep ties to our natural surroundings. Without these connections, life cannot be. In my experience, I’ve seen how art and creativity develop a language through which connections can be made.

Though there was an impressive amount of points and ideas which I will touch on in a few sentences which I appreciated from JD Vance's lecture, what made me willing to listen, swallow and immerse myself in what he was saying was the fact that he pointed out that while there are going to be differences in culture, in opinion, in almost anything there can be differences in… what’s important, what’s an essential part of trying to fix America and restore people’s hope in the American dream is to come at problems and dilemmas from the other side, with a new perspective.

When I was a child, I was a real menace. My mother told me my behavior could clear out a playground. Obviously changes have happened since my playground days and today I’m going to tell you a story prior to my metamorphosis. This is a story that I am not proud to say happened. My parents think it’s funny; however, at the time of the incident they did not. This happened about ten years ago, so I can now look back on it and laugh about what happened with them.

As I sit here and write this literacy narrative, I reflect on a time in eighth grade when I read a book regrading civil injustice. Back then I wouldn’t have thought to use such fancy words. Instead, something along the lines of “a black boy my age got killed for whistling at a woman! And the murderers didn’t even get in trouble.” So much confusion was attached with my not so politically correct summary of the book. In fact, we read this book in the upmost politically correct way as possible. Derogatory terms such as negro, nigger, and colored was to be renamed and replaced by the word African American. Simple. Nothing too hard to do in eighth grade just switch a word or two around. But how ironic we didn’t go over any set “rules” for the white character’s. No negative connotation related to the word “white” at all. In fact, when we had class discussions for this book it was normal to say “Hiram the white boy went to visit his grandfather in Mississippi.” But if I was to talk about Emmett Till, African American would always be attached to his name. I can admit just like any other person in that class it was weird but we never put too much thought behind it. Just abided by the rules and read.

I  was part of the crew of a 688 class attack boats (USS Bremerton). When I was first assigned to the Bremerton, my life consisted of learning everything I could about the boat and all of its systems so I could earn my "dolphins" and be a real member of the crew. You were viewed as a non useful body when you first report for duty. you litterly can take the past 1 year of training and throw it out the window. little of what was tought in Sub School really prepared you for what was about to become your reality.

Being accepted into May’s Business School this past May, I started to think forward to all the exciting job opportunities and different career paths that I could explore. Through the guest speakers and seminar sessions, I have grown to understand the steps needed to succeed in our evolving job market. By enabling myself to take this course I have learned many professional lessons which include; the value networking can have on your job placement, interview preparation, and how ethical behavior in the workplace can affect your performance.

Gosh, some people have all the luck and some also can make everything look easy, effortless. Some people take all Advance Placement classes, the tough ones, and still manage to be “ All State,” or “All New England's” athletes. How do I know this? One of them sleeps in the room right next to mine. Everytime I walk by my brother, Chase’s, room and I peek in, I am immediately reminded of his achievements and glory. The ribbons are endless, the trophies undusted ( he has had them a long time), and the academic diplomas and plaques shine bright.

As I woke up this morning in the middle of my college career, I was faced with the simple choice of what to eat for breakfast. Seems like an easy enough task, but it took me fifteen minutes. At this same point in my life I am faced with the decision of quitting my job now or waiting until I start my new one in March. Not as easy of a task. The choices that I make can be right or wrong, but either way I will learn from them. If I make the right decision, good for me and my life can go on smoothly. If I make the wrong decision, then I will struggle to fix my mistake and learn from it in the process. People are faced with choices throughout life. Sometimes these choices can be as simple as left or right, while others are much more

Before I take my first undergraduate class, I did not have any experience in writing academic papers. When I started working on my English class, I was nervous and did not think that I am going to make it, since it was my first time taking college level class and the hard part was that it was online. At the beginning, I felt helpless and alone without being in the class and asking for help from other students but soon I realized that we do not live in old time anymore. With the current technology like internet, online libraries and google, you have access to limitless knowledge and instruction on almost anything you have an issue with. The best part was that I realized that my professor is there to help me and answer any of my questions