English 111-60 Reflection

I am finishing up my first semester in college, and it was a big change for me from high school. Some of my classes were easy, while others were difficult. Most of my classmates were much older than me, and I did not even know any of them, and some of my instructors were younger than I had expected before starting this semester. English 111 was not too difficult for me, but it was a class that I had to work hard in.

Some assignments were challenging, such as the argument paper and rhetorical analysis, while others were easier, such as What You Believe. I seem to always have trouble starting a writing assignment, but once I get going I found most of them to be less difficult than expected. The argument paper was challenging but worth the time because I learned a lot about child care in the United States and other countries. The rhetorical analysis was difficult for me, but it was fun to really examine myself. It was probably my favorite assignment. My least favorite assignment was the annotated bibliography. I think it is just because I did not fully understand the requirements. Of course, I thought I did, so I never asked. To be honest, I could not tell you why I learned how to make a blog in this class. But I don’t mind. It was something different to do in an English class, for me, anyways, and I found that it was refreshing and actually fun.

I also enjoyed the films we watched in English 111. The Bruce Springsteen film was very interesting. I had never really listened to his music, and I liked it. The film also really made me realize how much work writers/artists put into their work. It was amazing. Bruce Springsteen never stopped until every one of his pieces was absolutely perfect. I wish I had that kind of determination, and it is something I have been working harder on. Why do something half way if you can make it perfect?

The Michael Moore film on health care was moving. I had never realized how lucky I was to have been receiving the health care I have. It really had never crossed my mind. I have only been to an emergency room once, and I did not know that people who did not have health insurance had to go there to receive care. The stories about the families and children who had been neglected by health insurance companies literally made me cry. I can not believe people could really turn their backs on someone when they needed help the most. I want to help people, specifically children, as much as possible. I would like to be some sort of counselor, and if I had enough strength to do it, I would really love to help children who are hospitalized. This film truly made me think about what I want to do in life and what I want for my son’s life.

This semester was a real growing experience for me. I took my first college classes and dealt with college instructors for the first time. It was far more challenging than high school, but it wasn’t a bad experience. I made some new friends who I hope to keep for a long time. I also learned a lot about myself, like what I want to do with my life. I don’t think anyone should avoid taking an English course, especially considering how poor high school students’ grammar and spelling has become. There is always room for improvement, and I believe that is what college is all about.

Final Diagnostic Essay Draft: Trip to Tennessee

My favorite road trip was taken last summer with my son, fiancé, and his family to visit their friends in Kingsport, Tennessee. It was my first trip with his family and I was both excited and nervous about how it would go. Friday morning we loaded our bags and climbed into his mother, Lisa's, van. Before we even backed out of the driveway, the arguing began. My fiancé, Stephen, and his sister, Rachel, screamed over who got to sit in which seat. I tried to ignore it. Then, as we accelerated onto the interstate, his father, Greg, tuned the radio to National Public Radio. I prepared myself for the next seven hours and I could tell then that it would be an interesting trip.

The actual drive to Kingsport took much longer than expected. We were stuck in traffic behind several accidents and our dinner stop took what seemed like hours. Luckily though, Stephen Jr., my six month old son, slept for most of the drive. I had never been through western Virginia or to Tennessee before, so until it got too dark, the scenery took my attention. The rolling hills and beautiful sunset was welcomed entertainment. Late that night, we turned into the driveway at their friends, Patty Joe and Mark's, beautiful home that sat on a huge lake. It was so still that it looked iced over. "Perfect!" Stephen exclaimed, "I can't wait to wake-board tomorrow!" We went inside and after a quick tour of the house I put my son to bed. I found myself sitting at the dining room table with the men: Stephen, Greg, Mark, and his son, Zack. Quickly their talk of guns and cars bored me, so I went on the porch with Patty Joe, Rachel, and Lisa. I swear, the laughs generated from our conversation could have been heard all the way across the lake. We had a great time bonding that night but were just as happy when it was time for bed.

The next morning, I woke up to a spectacular sunrise over the lake. After a delicious pancake breakfast and a quick trip to the store for a life vest for the baby, everyone climbed onto the boat. The boys were ecstatic about wake-boarding. I’d never been before, but Stephen and Zack were very skilled. They went first and it was obvious that they loved showing off. Then Rachel tried and easily stood up on her first attempt. It gave me confidence that I could do it too. But then Greg tried with absolutely no success. My stomach was turning with nerves when I slid into the lake. I watched the boat slowly drive away and Mark asked if I was ready. "Here we go," I said to myself. I took a deep breath and nodded. I felt the line pull tight as I pulled up to a squating position, and then - SPALSH! I face-planted into the lake. I repeated that graceful act two more times before I finally stood up. Unfortunately after I fell from standing for a minute or two, I couldn’t get back up. We decided to go back to the house for lunch. Only Stephen and Zack wake-boarded again. Everyone else was worn out, so we relaxed until dinner. After the best steak I’ve ever had, the sexes separated again. The women went downstairs to watch a movie in the “theater room” and the men watched Saturday Night Live upstairs. We went to bed early after the long day.

The following morning, we were excited to go back out on the boat again. This time, Rachel and I sunbathed on the front of the boat while the boys wake-boarded and wake-surfed. By one o’clock Sunday afternoon, we were climbing the sixty-something steps up to the house to begin packing. We had a light lunch and said our goodbyes as we piled back into the van. It was a short trip but we were all happy to be on our way home. This drive went more smoothly, and we got home an hour earlier than expected.

On this trip, I got to try wake-boarding and see Stephen do something he loves while bonding with his family. Not to mention I got to see a gorgeous region of this country I had never seen before. The weather was perfect and we all had a grat time. This was my favorite road trip because although it had a rocky beginning, everyone had a lot of fun.

Trip To Tennessee

Original Diagnostic Essay - August 27, 2009

I took my favorite road trip this past weekend with my fiancé, his family, and our son to visit their friends in Kingsport, Tennessee. It was my first trip with his family and before we even pulled out of the driveway, my fiancé, Stephen, and his sister, Rachel, began arguing. Then, as we got onto the interstate, his father, Greg, tuned the radio to National Public Radio. I could tell immediately it’d be an interesting trip.

The drive to Kingsport took much longer than expected; we hit accident after accident and our dinner stop took what seemed like hours. I’d never been to western Virginia or Tennessee before, so until it got too dark, the scenery kept me from complaining. Late that night, we arrived at their friends Patty Joe and Mark’s beautiful house. After a quick tour and putting my son to bed, I found myself sitting at the dining room table with the men. Quickly their talk of guns and cars bored me, so I went on the porch with Patty Joe, Rachel, and her mom, Lisa. We had a nice time bonding until everyone went to bed.

The next morning, I woke up to a spectacular sunrise over the lake that the house was on. After breakfast and a trip to the store, we piled onto the boat to wake-board. I’d never been before, but Stephen and Patty Joe’s son, Zack, were very skilled. They went first and loved showing off. Then Rachel tried and stood up on her very first try. It gave me confidence. Then Greg tried with no success. My stomach was turning with nerves when I slid into the lake. It took me three tries to stand up, and after I fell down, I couldn’t get back up. We went inside for lunch and only Stephen went back out with some of Zack’s friends. Everyone else was worn out, so we relaxed until dinner. After dinner the sexes separated again. The women went downstairs to watch a movie in the “theater room” and the men watched Saturday Night Live upstairs. Everyone went to bed early after the long day.

The following morning, we went out on the boat again. This time, Rachel and I just relaxed on the front of the boat while the boys wake-boarded and wake-surfed. By one o’clock, we were climbing the sixty-something steps up to the house and began packing. We had a light lunch and were on our way. The drive home went more smoothly, and we got home an hour earlier than expected.

On this trip, I got to try wake-boarding and see Stephen do something he loves while bonding with his family. Not to mention I got to see a gorgeous region I’d never seen before. The weather was perfect and we all had fun. This was my favorite road trip because although it had a rocky beginning, everyone had a great time.

Photo can be found here.