Reflection Paper

Fast forwarding to my sophomore year of high school, which was just two years ago, I learned the significance that baptism actually held- and it wasn't an audience of giggles,

God has been a very important part of my live since I was a very little girl. When I was only a couple of months old I was baptized. That was my first spiritual encounter with God. I then proceeded to commit my first communion in third grade. I then received my confirmation when I was in eighth grade. Like I said before God has been a very important part in my life for a very long time.

Baptism is often understood to symbolise the resurrection of Christ-the revival of the sinner to a life of righteousness. Romans 6:3-11: “Do you not know that all of

My family and I got up, got ready, and drove less than a mile down Old Hickory Boulevard to Forest Hills Baptist Church, like we had always done. Except, that day I packed my swimming trunks. On August 5th of 2007, I was baptized by a minister at my church. I was eager to get started. With both of us cloaked in white, the minster and I stepped into the baptism “tub” during the worship service. Colorful rays of light were beaming through the stained glass windows, the water was warm, and my mother was standing beside of me for comfort and reassurance; I was at peace. Out of the opening, I could see the watchful eyes of the choir, worship leader, congregation, and my family; I was at peace. As part of tradition, I was getting ready to be immersed into the water; I was at peace. While in the water, an extraordinary sensation of purification swept through my body. I, for the first time in my eight years of life, had truly felt cleansed from head to toe. This feeling was a direct action of the Holy Spirit entering and presiding in my vulnerable self permanently.

I already knew that these are the steps I must take before my special day. I have to be baptized, which I was, so that one

When I was 12 years old in the summer of 2017 I got baptized. I chose to get baptized because I wanted to fully accept christ into my heart. Carrie Koso baptized me because I fully trusted her to give me to christ. When I was 12 I was baptized into christianity because my friend Reagan introduced me to my church Northridge. So that is why I chose to be baptized.

I told friends and family that I was considering baptism, and as a result they provided me with useful information about Christianity and supported my decisions. After evaluating all of this new information, my heart filled with joy, and I decided to accept Christ and be baptized. I thought I would have to wait until Easter, but Sam discovered that there was an option to be baptized before that, on Sunday, March 13th. As the date approached, I became excited and eager because my family and friends were going to be there to witness this life-changing event with me. My Small Group friends not only witnessed this joyous occasion, they participated in my baptism. Shortly thereafter, I persuaded my family to attend a Sunday service to better understand my feelings for the Church. I realized that, now that I was baptized, I was never

I didn’t really have a choice to be baptized into the Catholic faith. When I was young I never realized how meaningful my faith will become in my growth. When I was a kid I knew Jesus died for us on the cross, but I never understood why. Now that I’m older, I better understand the burden of Christ’s crucifixion. I now know that I must be a disciple of Christ so that he did not sacrifice himself for no reason.

I was told by my pastor that I needed to be baptized so Jesus could save me. All the other kids in my church were baptized as babies and I was the oddball out. I didn't have an answer for my pastor but he assured me that it would be okay and Jesus would come and speak to me and help me

Often held as a rite of passage and entrance into the Christian church, baptism is much more than just symbolic ritual. Baptism was commanded by Jesus Christ in the Great Commission recounted in the book of Matthew. Even though we are simplistically called to be obedient by being baptized the Christian church has long debated the aspects of this ordinance. Denominations are divided on the basic meaning, types and modes of baptism even two thousand years after the founding of the Christian church. Just as the other ordinance, the Lord’s Supper, congregations find themselves at odd with tradition, biblical interpretation and even individual understanding. However, the simple message of this awe inspiring act can be explained out of the

As Hugh was explaining the importance of baptism and what it truly is, I found myself reflecting on what I have been taught about baptism. Even though i feel that I was raised to see baptism similar to how Hugh believed it to be, there was this sense of true passion and understanding as to the real importance of baptism. That is just is not a time for you to be wash of your sins, but a time for you to realize that without baptism, salvation is almost impossible. That Jesus himself said, unless you are baptised in the the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. I feel modern Christians have lost that true sense of what baptism is and I truly believe that this is something that needs to be readdressed in the Protestant

baptized as a baby, which was decided by the parents. I chose to be baptized at the age of 13

Over the course of the semester, there has been numerous amount of areas where I believe I have improved in comparison to high school. What has helped me in my writing is the writing class and the in-class writing workshop. The writing class that is located in the Kremen education building has helped me with my writing greatly because in the writing center the person in charge teach us lenses and we apply those lenses to the writing, draft, or reading that someone brings in. The in-class writing workshop has helped me because other students get to read my writing. This is helpful because I get feedback from many students and they let me know what needs to be fixed. A new tool I have been using is They Say I Say. The book is very helpful because of the information and examples it provides such as the templates. I have been applying the templates into my essays and I have seen a significant difference.

Since the beginning of the semester, my writing has changed and evolved to accommodate and sustain longer essays. With longer essays, there is more room for in-depth analysis. Further analyzing a topic has led me to findings that I did not know existed. As I continue to write, I uncover addition and superior methods to approach my writing to the benefit of me and therefore, my audience. Throughout the semester, I have incorporated techniques to further my narrative throughout my writing.

When I first began this English course, I did not know what to expect, all I really knew was I would be writing essays and papers which I don't particularly enjoy. I was not as confident in my writing abilities but after the first class period had ended, I decided that my goal for the semester would be producing writing that was clear and more effective. The Eclipse of 2017 pushed the first class back, but I still had an assignment to write about the Eclipse. I don’t think I have ever been so nervous when turning something in because I wanted to make a good first impression on my professor. I immediately relaxed when she said we did not have to read our essays out loud but instead explained what freewriting is.