Reflection Paper

Over the past year I had a chance to develop a deeper understanding of what it takes to develop successful paper. Taking English 1010 was a great experience because it prepares students on becoming better writers through college life. Even though this is my second year in college I was unable to take English 1010 the first year, but taking this class truly show me what college professors are looking for when we are ask to write a successful paper. College professors expect every student to be able to evaluate each topic and be descriptive in their essay.

On September 6, 2017, I were documented for an incident that involved a University Housing policy violation. I was charged with violating the University Housing Alcohol 1.2 policy. With my violation, came consequences. I met with The Residence Conduct Coordinator to discuss my actions and came to the conclusion that I would have to schedule a meeting with The Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Center (CADEC) and with that, a reflection paper.

During this semester, the realization of my past was that I have often skimmed through parts of the writing process to get the job done. Not being an avid reader often hindered my writing abilities. This class most definitely made me realize that the entire writing process is important and having peer reviews also helped significantly and certainly made a difference in the result of my work. Taking the time to read, brainstorm my thoughts, write an outline, rough draft after rough draft, reading constructive criticism of others helped in the revisions of my papers’ reaching the best possible outcome. When selecting English 102, I knew I would be challenged, but to what extent I was unsure. If like past English courses that were taken learning to write essays would be the goal. Once realizing that my work would be shared with others, providing informed information

I used to consider writing as tumble words from your mind, write, read it through, fix minor mistakes, and done. However, you rarely get successful. The truth is many students, including myself, struggle with starting to write a word, or getting stuck in the middle without knowing the main point of the writing. After completing English 101, I can explain the writing process, evaluate the strengths of my essay, and identify my weaknesses.

“Writing an essay is not difficult! I am actually great at it.” This is a common statement that I would formally say, and even believe. In the past, I had never felt the need to thoroughly revise my essays before. In all my past essays, I would work intensely on my first draft and then just turn the essay in. I never spent too much time re-evaluating my writing decisions before turning it in. This process had worked well for myself in the past, and as a result, each essay I turned it would be an easy “A”. When I signed up for EN100 I figured that it would be just like the other easy English class that I have taken. I assumed that I would work on an essay, turn it in, and then earn an A on it, but this was not the case. When I signed up for EN100 I figured that I could continue my previous essay writing methods, but that was quickly disproven. When I received my first graded essay, I was unsure why I earned anything but an “A” on it. It soon became clear to me that I was going to be required to change the way I formerly wrote my essays and spend more time with correcting them.

Settled in church during our weekly chapel service at Covenant Christian Academy, presenters recounted to the student body about their mission trip to Honduras the summer before in 2011. I was hardly paying attention to the presentation, watching the clock on my blackberry tick down signaling the end of chapel. As a high school junior, I would have classified myself as the quintessential jock and funny guy, always wanting to gain recognition for my athletic abilities and occasional comedic output to my fellow peers. During the winter of 2012, the assistant basketball coach and eventual chaperon for the next mission trip to Honduras called me into his office. He wanted to offer me the opportunity to go on the next mission trip for the summer of 2012. He mentioned my leadership on the court and overall good standing within the Covenant community as reasons for his decision to pick me. In my mind I was thinking, “Should I tell him this will be a waste of his time? I would only be joining to receive more attention and to build up my social status”. Eventually, I agreed. I started a mental countdown to returning home after the Honduras trip, where people would be eager to hear my stories while building my sense of self-gratification.

I’ve been playing piano for almost 9 years now, and that has come with a whole slew of failures on various scales. I had recently graduated from lesson books into classical music when this story begins. I had enrolled in Auditions, a piano competition where you ‘audition’ for State. I was ecstatic when I found out that I had received a one, or a superior, in the competition. Which isn’t easy by any means. In most competitions like Sonatina/Sonata Festival or Federation the judges give out superiors like Oprah Winfrey gives out money. “You get a one! You get a one! EVERYBODY GETS A ONE!”. So needless to say I was very pleased with myself.

When I was born to about the age of 8, I kept to myself and enjoyed playing alone. I didn’t want anyone else’s input on what I had to say, because I was happy with the choices I was making when I was playing with my toys. My mom told me I would sit in my room and play with my stuffed animals and My Little Pet Shop toys for hours on end just talking away, but when it came down to group settings I would just be quiet. I have been trying to figure out why that is. I do not remember being to told be quiet or to listen. I just did it. I enjoyed listening to others, because I was learning from their words. I already knew what I thought and didn’t see the importance of sharing that.

I am a Michigan State University transferred sophomore student at WCCCD majoring in Pre-Nursing. I still have my whole life to go. I am 19 years old so, I have a lot to live and go through in life. I am through the adolescent age of becoming a young adult into an official adult.

As a type-A individual, I really do not like it when things do not go as they have been planned. Unfortunately, this has caused some additional stresses and anxieties in my life which I do not have much control over. As a double-major, it is so crucial to stay organized and have a schedule to stay organized and complete everything that is required of me. But, college can be stressful, but I think that I am handling it much better than I could have imagined. Throughout my educational experiences here during my second year at UConn, I have been able to handle stresses much better than I have previously in high school and especially throughout my freshman year. As I am writing this, I realized that by surrounding myself with individuals who I know are positive influences on me and planning time for myself, I am able to reduce stresses in my life.

Do we really look into ourselves? As I read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch over fall break his life story really made think: How will I accomplish my dreams like Mr. Pausch? Randy’s idea of a “brick wall” really hit me because I admire that someone believes that hardships could lead to great things if they work towards it. I want to look into myself and see what life lessons that I go by the seventeen years I have been on this planet, and how they reflect what people will remember about me.

When I was eight years old, my dad being to honor and asked to speak at a meeting for the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) in Jerusalem. The event happened to overlap with my spring break. We packed our bags and in the morning we set out for LAX. After a rigorous and tedious flight, we arrived at the Ben Gurion airport. Zwe started the trip in Tel Aviv. After settling in to the hotel, we freshened up, and began to roam the streets. We had walked through the Shuk Hacarmel. The whole atmosphere was so welcoming. Everyone greeted us with warm hearts and open arms. My family felt right at home. The next day came about, and my mom had mentioned that we were going to meet one of her cousins, Sharon. Sheron is a consultant for the Israeli Defense Force and has dedicated his whole career to protecting his country. His passion for Israel taught me so much. Although our time was short because he only had a few days off, he taught me the meaning of being Israeli. Israeli isn't just being born in Israel, it means to alwya have a part of Israel in your heart. It is something I carry with myself and is one of my personal core values. After five days in Tel Aviv, we set out for Jerusalem. The night we had arrived in Jerusalem, my family and I could not contain ourselves. We decided to walk around and get to know our home for the next five days. As we were walking through the city, we began to hear the sound of music and people laughing and singing.

This last trimester I attended the class, Introduction to College Writing. I enjoyed the class and enjoyed the challenges the class brought. I have always loved to write papers, but my grade did not always reflect my enthusiasm. I took honors classes most of my high school career, learning how to write a very specific type of essay, with strict structures and numerous restrictions. This class taught me how to write different types of papers, and put my personality into the paper. I am ready for English 102 due to the skills that I acquired during this course.

“The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."” Upon hearing this my life was forever changed. I couldn’t understand or comprehend why God, God being all knowing and almighty, would have to make a bet with the devil in the book of Job. God began to lose me after this scripture, I had questions before, but this rocked my core and destroyed any doubt I had in my inquiry. It was in this moment I began on a path that would lead me away from Christianity and to Voodoo.

On December 12th, 2014, we were in church listening to the pastor preach about helping others. After church, we talked to the pastor about taking up for the homeless people in Anderson County. Instead of having a church that night the whole church came with us to give them the stuff. I like that I help the homeless people. One of the people that we help was crying like a baby because she was so happy to see us.The little thing we did make them happy. They look like they were going to cry. The homeless were delighted to see the stuff we gave them. I could hear the sound of happiness in the room because they were laughing. The room was as happy as a child with its mother.