English was never my favorite class and I’ve never seemed to look forward to it unlike math or computer science. I always felt out of place in an English class because I felt as if my answer would be wrong and I would be embarrassed. I always hated those socratic seminars and going around sharing our thoughts on texts and even more analyzing a poem which made no sense whatsoever. That was how my old self would think when it came to an English subject, I would absolutely despise it. Thank God, I left that old self when I graduated from High school.

I decided that in college I would change my mindset to put some effort in english. I would participate more, I would engage in conversations, I would read the texts instead of googling the summary. I decided that I would do every assignment on time and communicate with my peers as well as with my professor. I decided that I would be the first person to raise my hand for anything like doing a presentation, or sharing my essay to a workshop with the class. All of these things which I kept my promise to and endured through. Now I can proudly say that my perspective on English class has changed. Throughout this whole semester, I looked forward to English because I felt like I belonged there and it was a safe space. Professor Brandon was very flexible with the assignments, gave straight forward directions and was there to support me in every way. The way he taught the class, had me engaged and made me feel safe to participate. As a result, English transformed from my least favored subject to one I genuinely wanted to invest more time in.

This semester in English 110 wasn’t just about learning literature; it was a journey of personal growth and changing attitudes. Now, I can proudly say that English class has become a space where I feel I truly belong.

One of the most impactful assignments this semester was the personal narrative essay where I recounted my own journey of language learning. This essay delved into the challenges and personal growth I experienced while adapting to English after moving to the United States. This essay wasn’t just for my class; it was a story that a lot of people could understand. In it, I talked about how tough it was to adjust to a new language and how it changed the way I saw this country and its culture.

I wrote, “I struggled learning a new language when I came to the United States and it heavily impacted my view of this country and culture.” In the essay, I shared what it was like to come here and not know English. I felt lost and just tried to copy what other students were doing. I said, “As everyone entered the class, I imitated the other students around me, searching for a desk and diligently arranging my notebooks and pencils, mimicking their actions.” I didn’t know what else to do, so I followed what I saw others doing. It was tough being in class, feeling left out and alone while everyone else was learning together.

This essay was also about how I faced and overcame these challenges, I want others to read my story and be inspired by it to not give up because everything does get easier as time goes by. This narrative was important in achieving one of the key course learning outcomes: “Recognizing and Practicing Rhetorical Strategies”. By employing ethos and pathos, I was able to infuse my narrative with both credibility and emotional depth, enhancing the persuasiveness of my writing.

By doing this, I made my story not just believable but also something that could really make people feel something. This way of writing made my essay stronger because it got the readers interested and feeling what I felt. Using these strategies wasn’t just about making my essay better. It taught me a lot about how to write in a way that really gets a message across. Before, I might have just written facts or my thoughts. But now, I know how to write in a way that makes people sit up and listen, that makes them understand and feel what I’m saying. It’s like I found a new tool for writing that I didn’t know about before. This skill is something I can use in all kinds of writing, not just in English class but anytime I want to share a story or an idea with others.

The second essay I worked on this semester was really interesting. It was a profile of one of my classmates. What made this assignment special was that we first had to come up with questions to interview our classmate about their experiences with language. After the interview, we then had to write an essay like a documentary about their language journey. This was fun and different from what I was used to.

For my essay, I wrote about Al, who moved to the United States and had to deal with language challenges. This project opened my eyes to how much language affects our daily lives. It was more than just writing about Al; it was about bringing his experiences to life for the readers. I used his own words and detailed descriptions to make his story come alive. In my essay, I said, “This is the story of Al, a young immigrant who paints the canvas of his American experience with memories, moments, and myriad emotions.” I tried to create a vivid picture in the readers’ minds, using specific details and imagery to make Al’s experiences feel real.

This wasn’t just a regular school assignment. It was a chance to really understand the ups and downs someone goes through when they’re getting used to a new culture and language. Writing Al’s story helped me learn a lot about how people view and use language. It made me see that being able to speak a certain language can open doors for you, but it can also be a challenge if you’re not fluent. This assignemnt helped me develop another course learning outcome: “Examining Linguistic Attitudes”. Understanding how language can either help people or make things harder for them. As I wrote about Al’s struggles and successes with English, I realized how much language is a part of who we are and how we connect with others. 

The last major essay I tackled this semester was an analytical research paper, and it was one of the most engaging assignments for me. We were asked to pick a topic that really interested us and dive deep into it through research. The best part about this essay was that it didn’t feel like typical homework because I was exploring a topic I was genuinely curious about. It involved not just finding out new things but also forming my own opinion about the subject.

For my paper, titled “The Relationship between Children’s Behaviors and the Environment They Grow Up In,” I really got into the role of a researcher. I learned how to pick out the best sources and how to properly give credit using MLA format. One thing I’m particularly proud of is the opening line of my essay, “Children are like wet clay which can be molded in any shape,” a quote from journalist and sociologist Kumar Sawan. I found this quote during my research, and it perfectly captured the essence of my topic in a creative way.

But this paper was more than just collecting interesting quotes. It taught me to build a solid case using strong evidence. I dove into the complex topic of child development and discovered some surprising things. For example, I challenged the common belief that parents are the most crucial factor in a child’s development. Instead, I argued that the environment in which a child grows up plays a more significant role. I wrote about the profound impact a family environment can have, like “if a child grows up in a strict household, where their parents are always arguing… That child will automatically want to stay away from their parents, be secretive, and hide their feelings.” This was a powerful realization for me, highlighting how our surroundings shape us from a young age.

The research paper was also a great opportunity to grow in terms of understanding different styles of writing. I wasn’t just telling a story; I was combining solid research with persuasive arguments. I was able to adapt my writing depending on what the situation calls for. It wasn’t just about stating facts; it was about presenting them in a way that persuades and informs the reader. The approach was key in helping me develop the course learning outcome of “Exploring genres and rhetorical situations”. It was a rewarding experience to blend academic research with my own voice, creating a balanced and informative paper.Throughout the semester, I honed my skills in reading, drafting, collaborating, revising, and editing. The process of workshopping my essays with classmates and engaging in revisions based on their feedback was instrumental in refining my writing. I learned the value of viewing my work from different perspectives and the importance of thoughtful editing.
As this semester of English 110 ends, I can see how much I’ve grown and learned. I worked on many different types of essays, from sharing my own stories to researching topics that interested me. Each project helped me get better at reading carefully, writing my first drafts, working with others, making changes, and fixing my writing. I really learned a lot from sharing my essays with my classmates and listening to their ideas. This made me think about my writing in new ways and helped me make it better.