Reflection Essay

It is still so surreal to reflect back on my first semester as an incoming college student in the ENC1101 course, analyzing at my progression as a reader and writer in literacy. Since the first day of class I set in stone my goals for this class: receive a 4.0 GPA, develop my connecting theories skills in writing, and become more aware of objectives for each Unit throughout the course. All of these goals became achievements that not only make others proud but most importantly give me self pride. In order to earn the grades and achieve these goals, I went after every opportunity that I was given as an incoming college student, such as office hours and extra credit. By taking this course I have gained confidence with the utilization of literacy, and made an addition to my group of impactful literacy sponsors. Once students are finished with high school they assume that there is nothing else to learn beyond the stereotypical five paragraph essay, but they are so wrong. I was able to obtain so much knowledge about numerous course concepts from Writing about Writing, articles, and my professor. These concepts will carry on with me throughout a bright future of writing courses, job interviews, and any other skills that require literacy. The four outcomes listed below will help illuminate how I improved as a writer, by being a driven college student and going out of the way to earn my achievements in this course. In the first outcome I improved comprehending scholar texts,

Coming into Drexel this year, a necessity, I learned was to have a clear understanding of the mechanics for literature composition. I learned that it would mature my writing to a higher level of thinking. This is seen as past experiences in my writing through high school English teacher feedback indicated my writing to be full of flaws. I often would receive feedback on my writing being awkwardly worded or lacking fluidity. The one valuable skill I learned from English 101,102 and 103 was the idea that exposure to different readings, formulas and informal writings give practice, for me to find my own voice in writing.

Knowing now-a-days, how people compare themselves to others. I feel that it is time that we stop. Although it is much harder than it seems. Comparing one another is something we do, there will always be someone stronger, smarter, more attractive, and wealthier. The key is not to let it affect us. An individual will always have something that no one else will. It will differ from each individual. We need to just look at our own life and see what we can do to make it better. If becoming a helper will fill a hole in your life, as it does mine, then do it. If becoming a parent does then do it. We need to stop looking at other people’s lives and focus on our own. We are on this earth for one reason, to live. So we need to stop dwelling on what we don’t have, and go out there and get it, and live, go out and live life. Life is too short to keep complaining about what other people have. Everyone just needs to live life to its fullest.

6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

Giving back to the community is a passion of mine. The most rewarding experiences in my life have been doing what I can, to help others. As an Education major, helping children in the community is important to me, and reflected in my volunteer work. I have volunteered in several classrooms over the past two years in partnership with Junior Achievement. Volunteering with Junior Achievement allowed me to teach second grade students about the community they live in, the differences they can make in the community, and empowering students to become successful citizens who make a positive impact in the community. I have also volunteered with SA Reads, tutoring four students in reading in high-poverty schools in San Antonio. When tutoring, I use Science-Based Reading Instruction to improve literacy components. Tutoring students with SA Reads allows me to directly impact the lives of children in the community by tutoring them in reading each week, improving their reading skills, and helping students who would otherwise fall behind, succeed. Other ways in which I have impacted the community in a positive way is by regularly donating platelets at the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, donating books to children nominated for an angel tree, volunteering at SWISD Special Olympics, Volunteering with Voices for Children, Picking up litter in a neighborhood, volunteering at the Celtic games and music festival cultural event at the kids’ corner, raising awareness of human trafficking

Organization is one specific tool I have used throughout my life consistently that has helped me become who I am today. When I was a little kid, my mother use to say, “ okay, now help me clean up.” This stuck with me and as years went by, I eventually did so without her asking. I had a place for all of my things. If it wasn’t there when I went to look for it, I became anxious. Point is, at a very young age, I discovered the need for things around me to be organized and tidy. Throughout the course of one’s life, we adapt many practices that later shape who we are. These practices are called literate repurposing. While gathering my research, I came across many unique findings. This character trait has never diminished, and I've repurposed my organizational skills all throughout my life.

One of the greatest challenges I have faced during my high school career occurred during my sophomore year. It was during the planning of this year that I had decided to commit myself to completing a difficult course schedule while continuing to be active in school activities including clubs and various sports. As a part of my course load, I had chosen to register for AP World History, which historically speaking, is one of the most demanding courses offered at Avon High School because of the wealth of reading and memorization required to establish a strong understanding of the materials. My brother had successfully taken the class several years earlier and felt it was pivotal in helping him better understand the world, as well as cultural and religious differences. My parents on the other hand were resistant, and tried to persuade me to take other classes to seek this type of understanding, but I felt strongly that I could face the challenges that came with this class and grow through the experience.

I chose to major in English at the University of Oregon because the major offered the most beneficial coursework in preparation for law school. Also, I am passionate about research and teaching, and throughout my undergraduate career, I was able to actively pursue these passions. I received a 3.3 GPA.

In life dilemmas, do you often feel you’re unable to endure through daily functions? For my family, this happens every day with very few serene moments. During the peaceful times, my mind and body are at ease and I wish that feeling would last forever. Unfortunately, the aroma of tranquility departs while I’m experiencing the motions of my demanding life. In these stressful moments, diligent quotes such as “This, too, shall pass” and “Everything happens for a reason” help accomplish my daily responsibilities. In the past few years, these encouraging words provided me the confidence to overcome obstacles with my family, anxiety, and depression. However, sometimes my depression consumes my entire body and I feel lifeless and numb. These feelings don’t allow me to relax after stressful times and it becomes difficult to fight the negative thoughts.

My goal for this semester is to do what I have been telling myself forever, putting in work and dedication into whatever I want to do. I know that this semester is not going to be easy, but I will make sure that it is not difficult by reaching out to people on campus. I have already reached out to career advisors via phone so that I can get help with opportunities that could help me in this upcoming semester to succeed. In the past three semesters, I had a problem with seeking help with my advisors, professors, and centers on campus, but I have improved and I now have a personal tutor that can help with my English courses this semester. This will be helpful and convenient for when I am not able to meet with my professors or other free tutoring services on campus. I will make sure that I stay on top of my academics by finding a sacred place on campus where I can devote my time of studying into. I want to excel in all my classes and that is not meaning to get an A in everything, but leaving each class knowing the material. If I do not know the material I will go to my professor or TA and ask for clarity before I leave so that I can keep up, because all it takes is one day to fall behind. I plan on raising my G.P.A to at least a 2.4 this semester. This will help give me the stepping stone I will need in excelling in my spring semester because this year I will make it a habit to continue the academic schedule that I have created for this semester. My academic schedule will help

While the majority of my students are homogenous in terms of race, economic and social class, sexuality, and their technology access, I do have some individual students whose lives do not follow the same uniformity. As a result, I am driven to work even harder to create an inclusive classroom community. While most of the students in my classrooms may fall under the category of “privileged” I also have a percentage of students who do not. In the minds of my students, their disadvantaged statuses are only made more apparent while surrounded by those who do not experience the same hardships.

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 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.

“Legacy, what is a legacy?” The quote stated before was taken directly from the Broadway hit “Hamilton.” This question runs rampant in Alexander Hamilton’s mind as he is face to metal and gunpowder with Aaron Burr’s bullet propelling from the chamber of a gun like an agitated bull in a rodeo. When confronted by this question I knew I couldn’t evade this question from the inner machinations of my own inquisitive mind. It is as if my very soul yearned for the answer to this very broad question. In short and all you have time for I am sure, I had to know. I decided I would have to self-reflect and answer this to escape the imprisonment that is the fact of never knowing an end to this puzzle of my own definition of what’s to come after, well, me.

Upon further review of my past papers, I found some small grammatical errors that needed to be edited. In my unit one paper, there were a few errors that you had marked. I fixed those oversights then continued on with my revisions. In the second paragraph, I moved a comment to after a citation section in order to back up the information with my own thoughts as I had learned a little further in the semester. Another change I had made was to change a word that was repeated multiple times in a sentence. I also revised unit twos paper. I had received a perfect score on my paper, but upon rereading, I noticed a few things that I felt should be changed. They were not big changes, but I believe the modifications helped the information flow