Coming into English 101, I was scared about all the future work I’d have to do. Different people like family members, college students, and guidance counselors used to tell me about the workload that comes with college. Now that I’ve finished my first semester successfully I feel way more confident in college. Before I was more intimidated in this new environment and panicked about my grades. In English 101, I learned how to write better essays and the right way to use rhetorical devices. These two things work hand in hand when it comes to writing a paper. I could never overlearn when it comes to essay writing or expanding my vocabulary. There’s always so much more to learn. 

One of the things I would like to improve on more are my speech skills alongside my writing skills. I still find it hard to speak in front of my peers about a topic I had been researching about. One of the things I definitely want to keep expanding on is using the rhetorical devices correctly. These are essential especially when it comes to writing a paper. I had a couple of issues when we had to write sentences using a rhetorical device. I also struggled backing up my sentences with context and analysis. I think if I had done more research on how to use certain rhetorical devices I struggled with I could’ve improved my grade a lot more. I was surprised whenever I got 2/2s or 1/2s because the grades were so drastically different. 

One of the course objectives I can proudly say I achieved was, “Appraise their own composing abilities, processes, and goals through critical reflection.” Being able to connect with my peers and discuss the strengths and weaknesses in my papers enabled me to get the help I needed in making my essays stronger. I was able to hear ideas from groups of people that were in my age group which is usually helpful because they can relate to me more. I’ve revised all of the papers I’ve submitted based on the feedback I’ve received. These revisemets are an example of how I was able to reflect on my essay and make changes where it was necessary. 

In English 101, I was able to grow as a writer and be helped by others around me. I am now more confident in my writing skills than when I was in high school. This class and the tools and resources I used will stay with me as I progress through my next years at college. Being in this class not only made me feel comfortable but also challenged me to do better and not settle for the bare minimum. What kept me going was not being content with certain grades making me then want to revise it for a better grade. Overall, English 101 impacted my life as a reader, writer and researcher greatly. It was a great introduction to English in college.