Reflection​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Essay 

When I initially began writing in college, it didn’t take long for me to figure out that one of my biggest hurdles was to be able to effectively organize my ideas and present them in a concise manner. I pretty much always had the thoughts in my head, but ordering them into a meaningful way was something that I rarely could do. My sentences just seemed to jump from one thing to another, my points were disconnected at times, and I found it very hard to even indirectly link one idea with the other. Writing, to me, was more like doing some kind of jigsaw puzzle but without any clear outline of the final picture. 

Nevertheless, my writing changed steadily during the semester due to my continuous efforts. I figured out through writing, reception of comments, and in particular, my rewriting that I was able to gather my thoughts in a more logical and coherent way. Connections between paragraphs, relation of the main idea with the introduction, and the usefulness of conclusion in wrapping everything up — these are only a few things I have become more aware of through my writing. I, furthermore, assimilated the technique of postponing actual writing by sketching the points first, which kept me from wandering in the middle of different thoughts. I became more sure of myself and writing no longer was a chore. 

Indeed, the narrative on language and literacy was among my most significant experiences this semester. I was compelled by the assignment to closely examine my personal history and relate it to the way I communicate. It was quite an unexpected thing to realize that at times, it is very refreshing not to neglect the past that I tend to do so often. Identifying with the way I grew speaking, learning, and interacting with language helped me understand myself better as a writer. Moreover, it made the process more intimate as I was not merely assembling an essay but narrating my experience. 

I can honestly say that I have made apparent progress as a writer by looking back to the time when I was writing my first compositions. I basically evolved from being lost in figuring out how to get my ideas going to being able to come up with essays backed up with good structure and clarity. I practiced more effective communication and also learned to make use of my inner voice. This course was instrumental in my skill development, and I am certain that these skills will stay with me throughout my college years. Above all, it has told me that writing is not only about the completion of tasks, it is a medium to grasp life experiences, look at the previous stages, and letting others know who I ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌am.