A Personal Account of Struggling with Reading Books But Enjoying Writing

Introduction to Writing: A Personal Journey

I will personally never forget walking into my senior English class in high school. I remember my English teacher, Archie (Mr. Archibald was his real name, but everyone called him Archie), asking the class who did not know what Jane Schaffer was. Me, being new to Bonita High School, raised my hand and watched as everyone started to dislike me more than before. Archie continued his lecture, and I began to feel like he didn't notice I had no clue who this Jane lady was! After his fairly quick lecture, he came to my desk and taught me all the basics of writing in a matter of fifteen minutes. That was the beginning of my love for writing.

A Personal Account of Struggling with Reading Books But Enjoying Writing

I was never the one people would find at Starbucks reading books. To be quite honest, I am usually the one out at night painting the world. If I were given the choice to sit and read or to go out and goof off, goofing off would be the route I’d take without hesitation. It's hard because I have always loved the thought of having a little reading nook in my house one day. Being all curled up with a nice cup of coffee, reading a novel seems to be a relaxing way to go about life. The problem is, I can never sit down long enough to thoroughly read a book. I struggle with having to focus on one thing for so long. Usually, I get bored! I think a major reason as to why I do not enjoy reading is because it often feels predictable. The guy always gets the girl, or the guy does come back home. It usually is the same ending, just with different characters and a different setting. So, usually, I am able to free write an essay with ease and not have any problems.

The Art of Writing: More Than Just Words

I usually do a lot of free writing. I enjoy writing without structure or MLA Formatting. I like to make my own art in my writing. One of my favorite English teachers told me once that writing can be one of the most boring things to do. But once you make it your own and add your personality to your work, suddenly it becomes more like artwork than an assignment you are forced to do to get the grade. This advice, given to me by my teacher, transformed my perspective on writing. After that advice was given to me, I am able to write so much more and give the work so much more meaning because I can actually relate to what it is I am writing about. Writing, for me, became a way to express my thoughts and feelings in a way that felt authentic and genuine.

A Meaningful Experience: Writing About War Veterans

I did an essay about war veterans back in Jr. High. The requirements for this essay were that I had to interview someone who had experience fighting for their country and ask questions such as their experience and how things were back when they served compared to how they are now. My uncle fought in the Vietnam War, and interviewing him was such an eye-opener because the way they were treated back then would never even be thought about today. Looking at the way he explained in full detail how they were treated made the essay sentimental and gave me this feeling that this particular writing is more than just for a grade. I went home and wrote the essay and printed two copies. One for my teacher and another for my uncle. After the essay was graded and handed back to me, my teacher left a note in red pen at the back of the last page. It said, “Great work! I liked the personal and sentimental feeling I was given reading this piece. Keep it up!”

Conclusion: The Impact of Personal Writing

Writing has become more than a task; it is a way to connect with others and to understand myself better. By incorporating my own experiences and emotions into my work, I have found that writing is not just a skill but a journey of self-discovery and expression. This personal connection to my writing allows me to create works that are meaningful not only to me but to those who read them. As my teacher's feedback highlighted, the personal and sentimental aspects of my writing resonate with others, making the act of writing a rewarding experience.

References

Schaffer, J. (1989). The Jane Schaffer Writing Program. [Publisher information]

Archibald, A. (2023). Personal communication.

MLA Handbook. (2021). 9th ed., Modern Language Association of America.