Author Archives: nc102092

Strapped into the massive white donut of a machine, I prayed the images it produced would be tumorless.

Mesmerized by the television sets in the waiting rooms, I prayed the images they transmitted were exaggerated.

(pages 240-241: from the last paragraph on 240)

I absolutely love this transition. I think this paragraph break is particularly effective because of the way that she juxtaposes her CT scan images with what she has to witness on her television on 9/11. It’s such a relevant comparison. She goes through the worst, most traumatizing experience of her life, having a near-death experience and being misdiagnosed. In that last line on page 240, readers can clearly visualize the state that she’s in and identify with her feelings, considering the fact that she already lost so much. She prays that the images her CT scan produces are good. And then she successfully shifts to the equally tragic event of 9/11 by praying that the images transmitted on television of that disaster are not real, but exaggerated. It’s almost as if there’s a deeper connection between these two events, and as a reader I feel like the writer somehow identifies with the people who were affected by that tragedy. She may not have lost a loved one in the literal sense, but her experience was just as painful and her life drastically changed. She also pointed out that no amount of money could make up for what she had to endure, and I feel like several victims of 9/11 had a similar mindset. Also, I love that she uses repetition as well; from I prayed the images it produced to I prayed the images they transmitted. That method also makes this paragraph break very effective. I really like the connection she makes here.

Essay 1 Draft Cover Letter

Essay 1 Draft

British poet Carol Ann Duffy was appointed poet laureate of the United Kingdom in May of 2009, making her the first woman to do be appointed in over three centuries. Such a remarkable achievement makes me think of the importance of education and of how empowering it is to be able to write well. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of literature and poetry, because they play a huge role in all of our lives, regardless of which career paths we take. We are all required to write at some point, and being able to do so effectively is important. For this reason, poet laureates are like the beacons of hope, because they continue to promote poetry and literary education around the world.

During the same year that Duffy was appointed for this job, I had the pleasure of taking one of the most difficult English courses I’ve ever had in my life. I had signed up for AP English Literature, expecting my teacher to prepare us exclusively for the one exam that could get us all college credit. But what I signed up for was something completely different. My teacher’s passion for writing was evident in every lecture, but even more importantly—it was contagious. I like to think that I was somehow able to absorb that passion for writing. And although the process was still a struggle for me, I was always proud of the final product. I was pushed to write on some of the most difficult topics that I never thought I could handle. But when I ended up writing so many strong papers, I felt so much pride. The feeling was indescribable.

I got my first failing grade on a paper about what it means to be human. It was the first paper that I had to write. I had spent several days on it, and I truly believed that it was one of the best essays I’d ever written. But once I got my paper back, I read my teacher’s comment below the green F: Please see me after class. I had never gotten a failing grade on a paper before, and throughout that entire class, all I could think about what that grade. I couldn’t fathom how he could possibly think that this paper I had spent so much time on was bad. After fifty minutes of spacing out and worrying about that assignment, I practically ran straight to my teacher. I wanted to understand why he didn’t like my paper. This one grade was already beginning to make me doubt my talent as a writer. I was worried that maybe I wasn’t as good a writer as I always thought. We sat down for about half an hour to discuss my paper, and by the time our meeting was done, I understood exactly what I needed to do to improve my piece. I appreciated my teacher’s honesty, even though most of it was hard to hear. But what stuck out for me was his positivity. He gave me a second shot a re-write, and I ended up with an A-. Below that grade read the comment: This is a big improvement from your first paper. Very well-written. Keep up the good work.

It was actually at that point when I made one of the biggest decisions of my life. I decided that I wanted to become a writer. I was now confident that I could hone my skills and grow as a writer like I did in that class. And I was no longer afraid to look into a book that had enough difficult phrases to sound like a completely different language. But even more importantly, I couldn’t have made this decision without my teacher’s encouragement. He made it clear that a failing grade or negative feedback should not discourage me. My writing may not appeal to everyone, but regardless, criticism should challenge me to push myself. It’s one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten, and I still use it today. I’m proud to say that I feel like I’m already several steps closer to inspiring the world with my writing. And this would be my greatest accomplishment.

One of the most memorable moments in my life occurred on the day of my high school graduation. I see it as a huge milestone because it signifies all the hard work I’ve done and how much I’ve grown, and not just in terms of age. This day marked the end of an amazing chapter in my life, even though my experience in high school was far from perfect. I ended up meeting some of the most amazing people, and I took great professors who inspired me and pushed me to excel. In fact, it was in high school that I decided I wanted to be a writer. Although my AP English course was the most challenging, it was still the most enjoyable, and to this day I’m still thankful to that English professor for helping me to hone my craft and develop a passion for writing.

On the day of my graduation, I got emotional. I was part of the graduating class of 2009, and the ceremony took place right on my high school’s campus. The weather was beautiful that day. Very sunny, but not too hot or too cold. The ceremony itself was mediocre—it had its great parts and its boring parts. But after the ceremony, when I got the chance to find all of my friends and professors in the crowd, or to see the look on my parents’ faces when I found them, I was truly happy in a way that words couldn’t describe. My eyes began to water several times that day, but at the same time, I was just overwhelmed. I knew all along that I would be parting ways with a lot of people, but it seemed like the truth suddenly began to sink in on that day. But at the same time, I was happy and impatient to move on to the college life. It was a bittersweet feeling.

One historical event that I think may relate to this is the appointment of Carol Ann Duffy as poet laureate of the United Kingdom on May 1, 2009. She was the first female in 341 years to be appointed as poet laureate, which I think is a phenomenal achievement. It’s very inspiring, and I imagine that many people acknowledged this achievement and felt really proud, because this woman was making history. I’m associating this historical moment with feelings of pride and joy, which is exactly what I felt during my graduation day. Not only was an amazing experience, but it also signified the beginning of a new and exciting future.

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