Reflection Paper

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.

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.

Going into the meeting, my intentions for the focus student, at which I wanted my colleagues to notice, were the purpose of each work sample and the information required for each sample. The samples that were provided for my colleagues were the summative project, “Rock Detectives”, and the focus student’s interactive folder he used throughout the entire unit. Based on my colleagues describing the work, asking questions, and through speculation, the intentions were apparent. First, my colleagues were able to identify my summative project and was able to notice that the interactive folder was an ongoing activity throughout the lesson. Next, they pointed out the key vocabulary throughout my unit, “I see vocabulary.” Finally, they noticed that the information was organized throughout the three pieces of sample work, which they noticed my intention of organizing the academic language.

Over the course of the past few months I have learned that writing for college differs from writing an assignment for high school. During this semester I have had the chance to be challenged as well as grow as a writer. I have written various types of papers; These papers have ranged from memoirs to research papers. Different papers serve different purposes. For example, a research paper serves to inform, while an analysis paper serves to take a deeper look at a work or character. Nonetheless, each paper requires a different approach, and has compelled me to take the different skills that I have learned in class and incorporate them into the paper. Throughout this course I have acquired skills that improve my writing and communication skills. Through these assignments I have learned how to properly cite sources, incorporate outside sources into my writing, as well as analyze information to strengthen my argument.

Growing up for me went a little something like this. All three of my sisters and I shared a king size bed in the attic of a rental house off 17th & Dorcas. In the mornings we would wake up to mom’s chorizo and tortillas on the stove. In the background you could hear Telemundo, a Spanish channel, on the television. Being that I was one of four siblings Birthday parties came often, and were celebrated with lots of carne asada, jugo for the kids, piñata’s, guacamole and lots of beer and music for the adults. These parties were huge and went all night long. I guess you can say this was the Hispanic traditional way to throw a kid’s birthday party. Growing up biracial, and multi-cultural Mexican- American, our primary language in our home when we were younger was Spanish.

As a Nepali refugee who had never heard of football until he came to America, the transition to play for my school team was not easy. I did not have an easy experience so I had to earn to play for the team. In this paper I will use ethos, pathos, and logos appeals to prove that I entered the discourse community of my High School Football Team by developing knowledge, demonstrating my loyalty to teammates, and creating bonds with the teammates who helped me to become a true football player despite knowing I am from another culture who do not speak the same language and do not anything about football. It is important for everybody to learn the experiences of others because there might be somebody out there who wants to be part of any team, but maybe they are afraid to step up to join that team thinking he or she is different among all. It doesn’t matter who you are, but it’s important that you become part of a team you are interested. You will learn to make friends, boost leadership as well as communication skills like I did by becoming part of high school football team.

The First United Methodist Church of Monroe, Louisiana has essentially acted as a second home for me. Ever since I was a baby, I have been attending there. It is a place where I have

Growing up in the state of New York I was not raised in the church, so I didn’t care about God or care to know who he was. I remember being in middle school going on a class field trip to NYC I went to this big catholic church where I had my first encounter with God. It’s hard to describe an emotion I felt that day I just know what I know. I didn’t pay too much attention as I got on the bus to go home and never looked back what I had felt inside my heart and soul that day. I joined the navy right after high school and it wasn’t until I was leaving for Afghanistan that I accepted Jesus as my lord and savior. Fast forward a couple of more years I was going through divorce and went down a wrong path. I decided it was time to go to church and fully give my life to Jesus and serve him.

Blue and red lights flashed outside, while I saw my father being handcuffed; my mother and older siblings crying. I was seven at the time, didn't really understand what was happening but later I found out he was deported. My mother tried her best to raise me, “Sepa como pensar,”my mother would always tell me, which in English it means,“know how to think.” I was raised to face reality at a young age and to know that everything that you want in life comes from hard work.

I thought I was perfect. I was smarter, faster, and stronger than my classmates. I got straight A+’s and all my teachers appreciated my hard work. I was, literally, perfect. Or so I thought. During class, taking tests, and during P.E., I constantly had a terrible attitude, because I was bored, tired, and uninterested in the learning material. I didn’t realize how you did your work was just as important as doing the work itself. I looked down on those who got grades lower than an A+. I was also arrogant. My self - confidence resulted in my no friends. And I didn’t care. I felt I was too smart for everyone else.

The locker room is silent, but why? We are less than two hours from Massabesic High School’s first playoff appearance and everyone is sitting in silence; everybody is playing with their lacrosse heads, anxiously stringing them for the third time today. Why are we not excited? Why are we not blaring music? Why are we not jumping up and down, acting like idiots like we always do? I am pacing around the locker room and walking in and out, with the occasional stop at the bathroom to make sure I am not going to throw up. We have spent way too long rebuilding this team to throw the season away now. There are two aspects to being on a sports team that are not captured on the field but have a huge impact on winning: how everyone is acting in the locker room, and how we warm up when we take the field.

I was born into a time of darkness. Quite literarily, during the first year of my life, my parents found themselves often not having access to basic necessities that we take for granted every day such as electricity or water. Both my mother and father come from humble beginnings, being born and raised in small villages in the outskirts of Armenia. Never would they dream of one day moving to a city like Los Angeles after the kind of life we lived since my birth. Yet what we perceive as completely unattainable to us was actually much more within our reach than we initially thought. With a hopeful perspective in mind, we applied for a green-card and miraculously won a chance for a brighter future in the U.S.

When I was looking at which college to attend I was not sure what exactly I was looking for. After going on visits and recruit days, I learned that I wanted to go to college at a place that valued academics just as much as athletics. I also wanted coaches that care more about the player than they care about the result of the player. One other thing I wanted was a place that I felt I would be able to fit in. Now that I am here I have goals that I need to meet in order to make my time here worth it. I have academic, athletic and personal goals that I look forward to being able to accomplish in my time as Augustana.

Concurrent with improvement and enhancements to the Region 16 written curriculum, I will work collaboratively with building leaders to ensure that teachers implement the written curriculum with fidelity through the application of high-quality instruction. If appointed the next Region 16 Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, I will prioritize direct observations of instruction districtwide. As part of my observations, I will investigate the following:

In this course, one of the things I learned that stood out to me cognitively that prompted an internal cognitive reaction was bereavement experiences. On the first day of class, I learned that there are different beliefs about what happens after death. For example, some people think that reincarnation happens after death. However, I believe you either go to heaven or hell. I almost second guessed myself when reincarnation was brought up. Second, seeing the video of the mom discussing the story of her daughter committing suicide prompted an internal cognitive reaction in me. I was thinking to myself, how couldn’t anyone prevent this from happening? I wish that she knew what she was experiencing was only temporarily and not permanently. I was angry that she had to endure so much pain and obstacles in her life. Third, hearing the story of Prof. Windsor life and how she still grew to be strong, successful, and leading groups to help others with similar stories to hers. I was motivated to work on being a better social worker.