This Year

 

 

 

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As I began this course during the latter half of my senior year, I had anticipated a smooth-sailing semester. The initial few weeks went as planned, and I was confident about staying on top of my coursework. However, life had other plans. An unfortunate tragedy in my close family posed a significant obstacle. Nonetheless, I remained committed to my work and refused to let the situation derail my academics. My optimism took a beating when I was immediately hit by strep throat, which left me bedridden for two weeks. During this time, I had ample time to contemplate my situation and contemplate the missed opportunities. By the time I got better, I realized that I was already significantly behind on my work. To make matters worse, my schedule was starting to fill with my other commitments, such as lacrosse practice five days a week, games on weekends, and gym sessions every day. Balancing my Jenks classes, TCC classes, and work only added to the pressure. I was feeling trapped and overwhelmed, which eventually led me to hit the pause button on my schoolwork. Procrastination only dug me into a deeper hole. Eventually, I found the courage to get back on track and started working on my writing assignments.
   

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The Plague essay was a wake-up call for me. It required a lot more critical thinking and research than I had anticipated for a shorter essay. I struggled with time management, as I had a lot of other responsibilities outside of school. However, I was able to turn in a decent essay, but it wasn't my best work. Once I had completed it, I was surprised how much I had enjoyed the process. Project 1 was the next challenge that tested my rusty writing skills. It was a difficult task that required me to think deeply and create a compelling argument. Luckily, I was easily able to invest myself because I do have a genuine interest in the effects of social media on modern society. Still, I struggled with organizing my thoughts, and it took me a while to find my footing. However, I eventually managed to complete the assignment to the best of my abilities. Project 2 was a time-consuming but more rewarding project. I struggled to get started and procrastination held me back for a while. It involved a significant amount of research, and I had to dig deep to find relevant sources about Franz Kafka, and on top of that I had to evaluate his entire character to understand his point of view. This proved difficult, much of the language he uses is hard to interpret, not to mention at his core he’s an absurdist writer. The process of writing was frustrating at times, but I found myself becoming more engaged and invested in the project as I continued to work on it. By the time I finished, I had gained a new appreciation for my writing process and ability. 
 

 

Looking back on the semester, I realize that I could have done better. I should have started the Plague essay earlier and sought more help from my professors and peers. However, I learned a lot about time management, and critical thinking throughout the semester. I hope to carry these skills with me as I continue my college education.