Reflection Paper

Here I stand on the brink of adulthood, a daunting place to exist. I peer over the edge and gaze into a chasm, bright but blurry. I am afraid. I am anxious. But I am hopeful. I am hopeful because I know that my past has defined me, but it is my future that will continue to mold me. As my years as a teenager draw to a close, I find myself reflecting on pivotal moments that taught me what it really means to be a good human being.

Mohamed al-Kahtani was a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay who endured numerous disgusting and truly horrifying acts of torture. Being seduced by prostitutes and female officers, told to act like a dog and forced to crawl on his hands and feet while barking, and forced to urinate himself are just a few examples of the type of life prisoner’s at Guantanamo Bay are living. They are held in solitary confinement, while all day and night their lights in the rooms are kept on. Each day prisoner’s are tortured. Whether it is psychical or emotional torture, it is occurring all round the camp. Prisoner’s being tied down and forced to listen to extremely loud rock music for and extended period of time is one of the tactics used

It seems like the mines are doing more damage than they do good. The mines not only harm the environment, but then in turn harm everything that lives in the environment, including the people and livestock. The mine in this area destroys the mountains, pollutes the water, and violates the community's rights. It has such a negative impact on everyone and everything living in that area. The procedure to get the gold is highly toxic, just to say the least. The mine hurts their water and brings a lot of dust in the dry season, which causes people to more easily get sick. Even the livestock can easily get sick because of the soil, dirty water, and polluted air. It also becomes a political problem, because the people begin to fight against each other

Many governesses before Maria considered the von Trapp children to be incorrigible. They hated the children for the mischief that they do and the children hated the governesses in return. Hate begets hate.

Last night was one of those nights. I was working my second 12-hour shift in two days. The hospital finally put

No one begins their writing career level as the Hemingway of literature. We start from the bottom and work our way up. I began my writing career with poor organization and cringe-worthy grammar. In high school, my English grade would always sit on the risky border between an 89 and 90. I was also never one of those people who could write an essay in one sitting without having anyone look at my writing before the final submission. For the most part, I had to put in a good amount of effort to feel like I was on the same level as my peers. As we reach the end of the semester in Discourse 100, I have seen improvement with each paper due to the help of my peers, professor and awareness in the four kinds of knowledge: self, content, rhetorical and critical knowledge.

For my service learning project I worked in Mrs. Evelyn Costa's first grade class at Meadowlane Elementary. Meadowlane is located at 4280 W 8th Avenue in Hialeah, Florida and was constructed in 1957. There are one thousand one hundred and seventy seven students enrolled at Meadowlane Elementary school. Meadowlane has fifty three classrooms and fourteen portables and there are one hundred and seventy nine students per grade level. The school was built on nine acres of land. The student population of meadowlane Elementary is comprised of 97% Hispanic, 2% White, and 1% Asian.

Writing papers have always been one of my biggest worries as a student. My High School English class prepared me for basic writing skills, for example, spelling, grammar errors, and things that help me with editing my paper. This class made me realize that the writing process requires more than just editing, you have to understand that the paper is like a car, it cannot function without every single part being run effectively. I can certainly say that I have improved as a writer a great deal thanks to the in-class writing session and the opportunity given to volunteer at Cahaba Valley Health Care Center (CVHCC). In this essay, not only will guide you through how my writing has developed with my participation in class and through my experience at CVHCC but how I will improve my writing in the future writing opportunities I receive.

During my first year in college, I did not realize the major challenges I would face being a first-generation college student that was undeclared as a major. I knew I had to continue my education as many of my teachers and advisers in high school had mentioned. But I never knew the struggle of not having a family member to ask for advice or guidance to navigate my college education or choosing a major. I became interested in helping other students in their path post-high school by volunteering, mentoring and working with high school students in their process of applying or learning about their postsecondary education options. After working with different ethnic groups I came to realize that those that identified as

Throughout our discussion there were several intriguing and engaging questions that were asked and sparked a good conversation among our group. One moment where I believe I was most successful in the discussion, was throughout minutes six through sixteen. Throughout this time, we discussed how the Party’s control in 1984 can be seen in the world around us today such as in North Korea. This question was first prompted by Leo but what I feel made this our groups most engaging point was how everyone added to the question by rephrasing it, or adding additional information and perspectives, or incorporating it into aspects they are most passionate about in their lives. From this point, I related it to history and how history can be rewritten to correct ways a nation or person has morally failed. I used the example of slavery to show this point. Starting from about minute eight I discuss with my group how according to an article my English class read last year, Texas history textbooks teach slavery based on how it economically impacted the South rather than by teaching the dehumanizing and awful treatment of other people. This question and the points brought up by this question were what I found to be most engaging. Our group spent nearly ten minutes on this point, because this point took a personal side and everyone had something to discuss from it. I believe the passion developed from this point is what made this not only my most successful moment but one of our groups best

It’s always sad to watch the semester go. You get into this routine everyday and it becomes your life. When the semester ends you get a break which is great but then you’re thrown into a whole new routine with new people. I, myself, am a very awkward person and I’m never too keen on talking to people I don’t know. It makes it hard for me to be okay with new routines, I’d rather just keep everything the same. My best interpretation of my writing would be this: I don’t know how to change up my routine. This is seen very clearly through all my essays. However, I’d like to focus on my three essays The Youngest of Five, Band Practice, and Liar, Liar.

I witness students in my Pre-Algebra class that seem to know all of the answers while I sit there completely lost. They have no problem jumping ahead while I scramble, trying to get my life together. They seem like they are professionals at school, always early, always ahead, and always answering while I stare at the teacher like a deer in headlights when he asks for an answer to a question. Those types of students are what I wish I could be. Though some students allow nothing to stand in their way to success this semester, I have a harder time dealing with the obstacles I face. Some of the obstacles I face are my lack of motivation, poor time management and several distractions.

"Born on the South side of Chicago." A statement like that can say a lot based on who you are but the experience of physically living in a community that has so much negativity towards it, can have such an impact on how others view you. I've grown to constantly be conscious of the impact the color of my skin has, from going to a predominantly black school from elementary to middle school, a fairly diverse high school, to being a first-generation college student at predominately white institution like Eastern; it has become extremely important to make a meaning out of life. The meaning of my life has been based on the experience of my ancestors, present family and shaping my own identity based on my personal experience.

Everyone has at least one point in their educational life that has shaped them into the student or person they are today. For me, coming together after being separated as the “Germantown” and “Farmersville” kids for the first six years of school changed the way I built myself as a student. Becoming friends with new people, having new teachers for every subject, changing up the routine, and actually having to switch classes has taught me a lot of different things.

Being in a life or death situation, or at least believing you, can radically affect how you feel about the world, and everything around us. To unknowingly shake loose your repressed feelings and thought, through the rush of adrenaline and reflection on your own actions, is a truly freeing experience. While such a freeing experience comes with a terrifyingly dangerous cost, I was able to find a refreshing outlook on life.