Matthew McMullin

Ms. Burr

English 2010

May 2020

Reflection Essay

As I ponder and reflect on myself as a writer, I would like to take a look back on

my school career. I am a good student who has always tried to get good grades and do

my best work. I like some subjects, however, I am not too fond of others. I seem to like

the subjects that come easy to me and require minimal studying like Math, History and

many of the Art classes. English has never been my favorite class because it is quite

stressful to research and come up with page after page of written content and at the end

of it, not truly learning a ton. This year, in analyzing my writing and projects, I have

come to realize that while I don’t necessarily like to write, I do love to create and that is

the basis of any English class. Especially English 2010.

We have written a lot of research type papers this year in English 1010 and

2010, like my paper on Poverty. I did not enjoy the research or the writing of these

papers. It was just something that did not seem that necessary to me. It is a very

time-consuming process and is really quite boring for me. I do not enjoy doing the

research and then trying to come up with a different way to present what has been

written many times. What I found when we had to revise and transform our papers into

different formats, is that I love to create and make new things. Making the video and
creating new things from my essays was fun and something I could see myself doing

more of in different classes and/or in the future.

Another thing that I have been able to recognize in myself also has to do with

writing the Memoir. As I did not enjoy writing the research paper, I very much enjoyed

writing the Memoir where I talked about the Mexico trip and helping others that are in

poverty. I enjoyed writing about these things that were close to me and that I cared

about. I like to write about what I know, things in my own life and around me that I have

experienced; things that I have done and enjoyed doing and that I am passionate about.

I now know that it’s not that I dislike writing as a whole, but it’s that I don’t enjoy the

non-emotional experience of writing for a grade. I liked writing for me.

As stated, I like to get good grades and I like to learn. What I have learned is

that it’s not all about getting good grades. You don’t have to write what you think your

teacher will want, but what you enjoy. There will always be subjects that I will not like

and maybe just try to get through, but I found that you can find something you like, even

in a class that you thought you don’t. I have found that getting the A should not

consume my writing, but that I should write in a creative way that is exciting to me. That

said, it’s better for me to write in a way that’s maybe not just for the teacher and the

grade, but that is for me. That is something that will come up in all of my writing, not

just English classes.

I have realized that English class is a place that I can create, not just work.

From the beginning of my education experience to now I have changed my attitude

towards English. At first it was exciting and new. Then it became work. However, now
I am able to enjoy writing again and have realized how I should write. Not like others.

Just to be clear, I have always liked my English teachers, just not necessarily the stuff I

was being taught.