Final Reflection

The past 5 weeks as a college student have been a wonderful experience. Before I started college I was so nervous about the whole thing. I didn’t know what it was going to be like with out my family or friends. I’m glad to say that I didn’t really get too homesick. I found that I really like my new independence and I think I have handled it responsibly. All my friends told me I wasn’t going to survive in college because I was going to have to do everything myself. I proved this to be false. Doing laundry and cleaning, two things I never did at home, have become routine. I realize now how much I took my mom for granted and I’m more appreciative of all she does for me. Time management I have also found to be very important. Its so easy to get distracted here, and its so important to keep your priorities straight. I learned this the hard way. I had my best friend stay with me one weekend and I had a huge psychology test that Monday. Needless to say I tried to cram 3 psych chapters into my brain the Sunday before and completely failed. Its through experiences like this that we learn about our selves and the things we need to do to succeed. The next test I took my time and started studying ahead of time and scored a 98 on my test. I think I made the right decision in starting in the summer. Fall is going to be completely different but at least now I have an idea of what college is like. I was pleasantly surprised by my first couple weeks as a college student. As much as I miss home, I cant wait to come back and start again in August.

I am not a morning person

Today I feel extremely tired. I didn’t go to sleep till almost 3 o’clock. My hair is a mess, and I did my makeup without really even looking in the mirror. Just by looking at me this morning anyone can guess that I literally just rolled out of bed. I was studying for a psychology test I have today that I have to do good on for the sake of my grade. My roommate over slept this morning, and somehow I ended up doing the same. I managed to get here on time by running to class. At this point I can’t wait to go home. I miss my bed and sleeping till 2 in the afternoon. I tell myself every day that it’s almost over and that’s my motivation. Now that I’m awake, I’m anxious for my test. It’s not until 2 this afternoon but I plan on studying non-stop until that time. This morning I’m definitely experiencing some negative emotions but I know I’ll get through it.

Tips for Fiction Writing

http://www.writingforward.com/news-announcements/guest-posts/10-tips-to-improve-your-fiction-writing-skills

For my 3rd paper I plan on writing in the fiction genre. This website offers 10 helpful tips for fiction writing. Immediately the first tip has helped me immensely. It says to start with a seed, and that most fiction starts off with the question "What if.." This is interesting because I see how asking questions like that could spark a lot of creativity. This is definitely a technique I plan on using when I sit down to write. I want to write about something that is out of the ordinary, and something the readers will never expect. Another tip I found helpful was to write what you know. In the past, it has been extremely helpful to build on information I already know, and topics that I am passionate about. The last tip I found extremely helpful was to put it away when I am finished. I have a problem with rereading everything I write an excessive amount of times before I feel comfortable with it. This technique can help me trust my writing and should trim down some of the time it takes to compose my story. Just from reading this short list of tips, I have so many ideas for my writing that I didn't have before. I'm excited to start composing my piece but I also find it intimidating. The amount of creative freedom we have for this paper scares me, but I think its going to be a great opportunity to showcase my writing abilities.

Reflection

Reflecting on the past four weeks, I think my writing has definitely evolved since the first day of class. In high school I was never challenged to write papers that were more than four pages, and at that time I thought it was a ridiculous amount of work. I am extremely proud that I have written two papers exceeding 6 pages. I have more confidence in myself and I realized that it is not as intimidating as I thought.
Another effect that has greatly impacted my writing is the use of details. I had never realized before how adding in sensory details can really help the reader visualize the situation you are trying to convey. Details allow the reader to feel emotion, visualize the setting, and allow them to relate on a deeper level. It has considerably changed my thought process when writing a paper. Now I think about what details I could add in to really make my scenes vibrant and alive. I also realized that by adding details it keeps your reader entertained, which is always a good thing because no one wants to read a boring story.
Another aspect that has greatly contributed to my writing is the writing process itself. I have learned that prewriting greatly contributes to my writing by making it more organized. I find it to be a lot easier to write a lengthy paper when I already have my ideas outlined. After reading Shitty First Drafts I realized how important drafting is, and that not everything I write is going to be perfect the first time. This also showed me that all writers go through this process and to not be self conscious of my first drafts. I think that a lot of the skills I have already learned in these short four weeks will continue to aid my writing in the future.

I Didn't Really Die

Nicole Jaeger, the beautiful daughter of Rob and Christina Fecht passed away at the tender age of 18. She was found very peacefully in her bed on the morning of July 21. Even though her life was tragically cut short, this teenager still lived a full, happy life. She graduated from Cypress Bay High School, class of 2011, and previously attended Florida State University where she was studying Psychology. She had a strong support system amongst family and was loved dearly by all of her friends. She will surely be missed, but never forgotten by the ones who loved her.

Stiches of Art

Art can be anything a person creates out of their imagination or feelings. The outcome of intense passion for something can be art. I have a love for fashion and thanks to my best friends mom, I also posses the skills to sew. When I was in 4th grade I was watching her sew one day and she asked me if I would like to make an outfit. I said sure thinking it was pretty cool. The finished product was a pink and yellow floral skirt. I was so proud of myself for creating a piece of clothing that I could actually wear. I kept up with the hobby by doing little projects every once and a while but never a huge project. One day when I was about 15 I was watching a marathon of project runway, and I envied their abilities to translate their concepts from paper to fabric. I thought to myself, I know how to use a sewing machine why can’t I create my own masterpieces as well? That night I sat at my desk with a sketchbook and a pencil and filled pages with clothes I wanted to make. I loved the idea of having complete freedom to make what ever I want, and the luxury of it fitting perfectly to me. It became obvious that I was going to have to start simple because just because I knew how to sew didn’t mean I was immediately going to be the next Donatella. I decided on a plain blue sundress with a simple ribbon design around the waist. Within a week my room completely transformed into a sweatshop, complete with an ironing board, sewing table, and a sewing mannequin. The finished product was nothing like what I was picturing in my head. It had crooked stich lines, a zipper that barely worked, and stray strings hanging everywhere. But to me it was perfect. I was so proud of the fact that I took an idea from my head and put it into action creating my very own work of art. Every great artist, or in this case clothing designer has to start somewhere. Sewing has become a major outlet for my creativity and it allows me to express myself in a way that most people cant.

Watcher.

My watcher is unique and very different from the one that Gail Godwin describes. He never makes and appearance while I am writing on a topic that I am passionate about. In situations like that I feel as if nothing can stop me and the words flow out of me like rushing water. If I am not so confident in the topic, my watcher makes me hesitate in my writing, drawing the process out and makes it take way longer than it should. My watcher really makes most of his appearances after I complete a work. That's when he brings thoughts of doubt and self consciousness. My watcher makes me want to keep my work a secret, most of the time I feel as though it is something very personal and if I were to share it would be an invasion of my privacy. I know that all of these thoughts are irrational, and I have my watcher to thank for it. I have no reason to doubt my writing, past experience has shown me that I am in fact a good writer. I hate my watcher for making me doubt myself and my abilities, but in a way he always ensures that I am putting forth my best efforts.