Let’s take it back to square one. I’m going to tell you the story of how my journey began, and how I ended up where I am now- as a senior journalism minor. As stated in my desire 2 learn discussion board, I grew up in public schooling and I believe that dictates a majority of how I understand and comprehend things. I am going to introduce you to how I began my reading journey, and that started my writing journey. Here is a snippet from that discussion post:
Backstory
“Growing up in public schooling, the one thing we as students were pressed to do, was to learn how to read the articles for tests in a new way: read the first and last lines of each paragraph, and that should tell you the jists of the plot or story. I can’t say this helped me take tests better, since I usually suck at that aspect anyway, but it was an interesting concept to come into at 17. My entire life prior I was told to read everything, from start to finish, to understand what I was reading. And if I didn’t understand it, I had to read it again. Now throw in the new wave of technology and statistically proven shorter attention spans and it can feel like no-one reads anymore. When I read articles, I read about the first paragraph, if I haven’t had my interest sparked or gotten what the article is about, I usually leave. I might scour through the remaining paragraphs, skimming through to see if anything jumps out, usually out of sequence.”
Now I mention the reading portion because I feel for the most part, most humans learn to read before they write, and how they read can have a direct correlation of how they write. For my personal experience, I did not learn how to read until the second grade (more complex things of course. I remember vividly before that looking at a “welcome” sign and trying all year long to pronounce the word but I never could.) After I learned the phonics, grammar, and all the essentials that come with the English language I ventured out and read as much as I could – or as much as a seven year old can read. But I mention this instance because I was taught to write my name before I learned how to read. Now “Hope” is not a hard word, to understand, or to spell. I could understand letters, but could not comprehend how to form them together, I just knew the song.
Not My First Rodeo
Stating all of that, I would like to say I was pretty good at writing throughout all of my schooling up until college. I say that because for the first time in my life I received a B in an English class when previously I had scored A pluses. I was extremely bummed about that, but my sophomore year of college I had a professor that said something along the lines of, “you all think you are good writers because you have been told that your entire lives. But I’m here to tell you otherwise. I’m here to challenge your abilities, not baby you and tell you that you’re doing a good job”, and that has stuck with me. You never grow without criticism to your work, especially as a writer as your work will be read by anyone whose eyes will lay upon your work, and if it is good enough, they will stay to finish what you produced.
Past. Present. Future (Hopefully)
As for my writing, I fell in love with storytelling through my words, giving the world a different perspective – through my perspective. I was the editor for a small student run newspaper in the fifth grade, and once reaching high school I got involved with my journalism club and yearbook staff. And onward, I could tell stories, not only through my images, but how I decided to word the image to make the viewer get a feel for what vision I want them to see. I carried that same passion and determination with me all the way up until where I am now, a senior in college with a desire to tell stories. While all journalists are conditioned to wire and write a certain kind of way (believe me, I despise APA format as much as the next college kid), I believe writing to an audience that will understand and stick with you until the end, then that means you have an ability to connect with others. If you have made it this far, thank you for reading one of my many stories. I hope you stick around for more.
Capture it; Remember it 