Memoir Assigment

  My first semester of college was a whole new world to me coming from the High School.  I learned a lot of skills that I always had and didn't realize I had these skills.  English 090 was one class I had trouble with that semester.  In English 090 I wrote very well written papers reflecting my life. “Did I get all A’s and B’s on them? No I didn't because I had trouble with grammar.”  The first paper I got back was a C.  It had notes written all over it saying sentence structure, fragment, run-on, and pro-noun agreement.  I ripped up the paper and gave up on writing.  I thought to myself, “I can’t do this and I will never be a good writer.”  I was upset that I didn't get the help I needed in high school when I had these problems.  Throughout high school I always had sentence structure, fragments, and run-on problems.  All the teachers did were fix the problems for me and didn't explain to me how to correct them.  Fortunately in college I had a supportive teacher that inspired me and helped every individual.  She taught us about sentence structure, run-ons, fragments and lots of other grammar skills. When I wrote one assignment during class she would have conferences with each student individually and go over the editing notes she wrote on our papers.  What encouraged me to write was when she would laugh when she read my papers and tell me that she can picture it in her head what was happening.  She would always encourage me to go to her office whenever I needed help. Therefore I ended up learning a lot and that I can become a better writer with practice.

Furthermore, now that you know about my experience in my English class, my first semester of college I also learned how to manage school and my home life.  Trying to figure out how to manage my home life and school life gave me the biggest headache at first and it took some time to figure out how to do both without having stress in my life.   It’s the first week of college and my English teacher comes in the room.  She comes up to me and says, “You’re playing games on your phone! Shouldn’t you be studying while you’re waiting?”  After that I built a whole new schedule for me.  It’s the second week of classes and I get in the classroom and I look at the clock I have fifteen minutes before class so I get out a piece of paper and drag my pencil across the paper and then the teacher comes in and looks at me with a smile and says, “I am so proud of you, being a productive student.”  When class is over I head to the gym and I have sweat going down my face with my eyes going from left to right on a boring textbook.  After I learned how to use my time wisely I didn’t have to stay up till eleven at night doing my homework. Also I was able to have a life with friends and family. 

Another skill I gained in college was confidence and independence.  Having confidence in myself was the hardest thing for me believe it or not.  Throughout my whole years of school I would always be the girl that would sit at my desk with my lips sealed and not one peep out of me while everyone else participated in the discussion.  I was always afraid of kids laughing at me and making fun of me if I asked a question or said a wrong answer.  And then at the end of class I would walk out without understanding anything.  I had a splitting headache when I tried to do my homework because it was like I was learning a new language and I would always go to my mom with water coming out of my eyes and my hair sticking up. I would always tell her, “I don’t understand this ridiculous homework and I am going to get an F if I don’t do it!”  So she told me, “I will email your teachers and explain what is going on for you.”   In college it was a respectful environment full of grown up and mature adults.  When it came to class discussions I would not keep my mouth shut.  In my reading class I would answer 10 out of the 13 questions my teacher asked.  Everyone else would sit there with their mouths shut.  I even asked questions when I didn’t understand something and was always going to my professors office hours for extra help. 

Even though college was a big transition for me coming from the high school and I had throbbing headaches, I got through it all and learned a lot about me.  I can do anything I put my mind to and I can get through anything and shouldn’t let obstacles get in my way.  Also even though I was frustrated that I didn’t get the support I needed in high school it’s a whole new education for me and I can start off brand new and look at how far I gone in college with all the struggles I had.