It feels like I blinked and the semester came to an end. I signed up for this English class simply because I need to graduate with at least ten honors courses, and this was all I could fit into my schedule. I hated English in the past, and I think it was the writing that was the struggle for me. However, I had an amazing first semester with Judah Rubin. He was not an easy grader, but he gave good grades based on improvements… and I was proud to go from a B- on my first assignment to a final grade of an A.

Like I stated, writing never came easy to me. I never felt like I was creative enough, so I just stuck to “matter-of-fact” writing. I got A’s in high school, basically because the writing was simple, but I never felt like I was improving. Thinking about college level writing worried me. Can I do it? My ideas aren’t horrible… but how do I put my thoughts down on paper to make my reader (a professor I didn’t know anything about) enjoy it? Just liked Professor Rubin helped me see my potential, this term with Professor Blankenship reinforced my confidence, gave me constructive criticism, and allowed me to grow as a writer.

In terms of my rhetorical analysis focusing on the metaphors presented in House of Cards, I think my success stemmed from my love for the show. I drafted my first paper seemingly quickly because I knew exactly what I wanted to discuss. When I met with Professor Blankenship, she didn’t make me anxious about my work. She simply told me where to tighten my focus and where to look for line edits. The topic plays a big role in how a writer performs, and this was something I found rather interesting.

In terms of the second assignment, the research-based argument revolving around a “single story,” was a lot harder for me. I had a lot of sources and wasn’t sure if I was making any sense. Professor Blankenship reassured me that my ideas were great, and told me where to make my arguments clear and concise. When I get anxious about an assignment, I hate doing it, and I was discouraged until I got my grade back. Relieved, I desperately had to read Professor Blankenship’s comments. I value her advice and criticism, and feel it is honest and sincere. With that being said, I found my confidence again.

The remediation process brought back some of the stress, but like stated in my reflective essay, there is a significance in silence. Listening is just as important for a writer as writing is, and I truly learned more about my topic than I did from reading a few sources. I realize I should have planned the creative process prior to the actual research topic because I would have had even more passion and knowledge to back me up.

This semester, I learned to trust myself. While I need to brush up on my line edits and maybe finding some more creative ways to propose my ideas, I shouldn’t sell myself short. Being in a close-knit honors class, I was able to see other peoples perspectives up close and personal, and it was exciting and rewarding. I am jealous of the incredible writers I have met and will come to know, but that doesn’t change the fact that I am a writer. An important take away, for me, is to realize that we all can be writers and just because we may not be published authors, we can all write in our own style for whatever audience we choose. Writing is an art and it is a medium for expressing our thoughts, feelings, opinions, and more. It is a place where we can express our identity, especially if it is difficult to do so simply by speaking.

I know a goal of Professor Blankenship was to understand the sources of persuasion, and how rhetoric shapes our reality. However, it wasn’t only the technical aspects of writing that she emphasized. She emphasized the importance of empathy in understanding people’s work. We may not all go through the same experiences, but we can listen and learn from one another. With that being said, I tried to emphasize that philosophy in my creative project. I wanted to come out of this class learning something, and I 100% did. I stepped out of my comfort zone and took risks, and I heard from students from totally different backgrounds than I am used to. Diversity and acceptance can go a long way in education, and I am pleased with my experience at Baruch thus far, especially in terms of my growth as a writer.