A Writer's Joy

Well, just like that, it's over. These past few weeks were filled with adventure, wonder, anxiety, prayers, and finally, JOY!!! When I was told I was required to take this course, ACAD 103, I was not happy. For me, this has been a long journey. I am at the end now and it is starting to feel bittersweet. I came into this class with hesitation because I like to write, but I knew that it would be more than just freewriting. Formal writing is intimidating and challenging to me. There are so many "dos" and "don'ts" involved that frustration is a familiar feeling. However, I can honestly say that this time was a little different. Professor Aggen, Kim, Dan, Edith, and Jackie, you all made this one of the most special classes I have ever been a part of. Listening to your life stories gave me the inspiration to do better and to be thankful and grateful for everything in my life. I felt a strong bond of connection as we gathered and shared our stories each week. I recall how each one of you patiently waited as I poured my heart out about my son, Garon. You listened and offered advice and I will never forget how Professor Aggen took time to pray for our loved ones after the inspiring devotionals she read. These are the things we should never forget. 

As we move on to the next chapters in our lives, I hope that we will use the wealth of information that Professor Aggen taught us to the best of our abilities. I now know where the comma should be placed and why we use semicolons. I learned new words and their meanings. It's funny how we go through life and don't realize the importance of grammar and punctuation until we need to use it in a class or in a formal setting. I urge everyone to continue to use the lessons that were taught and your writing will improve. I enjoyed this class because Language Arts has always been a subject I was interested in. I like to read too, so that helps to improve vocabulary skills as well. I must admit I struggled to complete my work on time. Between home, work, and school, I felt so stressed out sometimes that concentrating and focusing was almost impossible. I cried and felt hopeless on many nights when I could not figure anything out. The prayers of Professor Aggen and my classmates helped me to push through and complete my assignments. God is able to help us see light when it seems so dark. I look forward to becoming an elementary education teacher. My future is promising and I hope to make a difference in the lives of my students. 

I wish the best for everyone as we move on to our next adventure. I enjoyed these last eight weeks very much. Thank you from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet for a beautiful experience. I will continue to pray for you and your families. 

With love, Pam M. 

A Writer's Fears

So here I go again--writer's block. I suffer from it when I am assigned a paper of length. I am tired and I doubt my abilities to create a paper worthy of submitting to the professor. I suppose it is a combination of feelings such as: fatigue, inadequacy, home, family, and work. Juggling all these obligations has an affect on my creativity, or is this a poor excuse? I want to be able to write and not have issues. I wonder if this is what professional writers go through. I pray for wisdom and substance, not only for myself, but for my classmates. I enjoy this class; Professor Aggen makes it a good experience for me. I have learned something useful every week I have sat in for a lesson. I appreciate her patience and guidance. I will use the books that were recommended for this class to help me produce a well-thought out and sensible paper.

I am an advocate of promoting literacy. Although my subject is about immigration and education in America, literacy will always be something that I will refer to when I become an educator. I chose to write about these subjects because these are issues that I will encounter in my classroom. I want to explore and learn more about them; I also want to know what others think about these topics. Overcrowded classrooms, language barriers, bullying, and other problems will arise. How will I handle these issues? It remains to be seen, but I will continue to pray and seek guidance from those who are experienced.