Reflecting on Growth

     Walking into Writing 2 blindly with no idea on what to expect, I felt uneasy of myself because of the uncertainly about what writing studies contained. Being skeptical about how the course would help me improve and grow. However, as the weeks went on, I discovered that Writing 2 was more than just writing and reading assignments. It was about learning to discover myself and connecting writing to my personal life. The Weekly Reflections became the staple piece of my growth in Writing 2, helping me to navigate the challenges and celebrate the wins. The reflections gave me a moment to pause on the busy work weeks and have a piece of peace to myself. Through the reflections, I was able to develop a mindset of continuous improvement.

Week 1

Week 1 set the tone for the class. Writing 2 began learning about Project 1, which introduced the concept of writing studies. This was completely new territory for me, and I remember feeling overwhelmed by the idea of crafting a reflective essay based on sources and connections. Early in the stage, I had no idea how these sources I picked out would later transform in a piece of reflection work. My first weekly reflection captured this uncertainty, as I questioned whether I could handle this level of analysis and reflection as it was the most hands-on project I have encountered.

Week 2

By Week 2, I began engaging more actively with the material by putting in more effort into the Reading Journals to enchance my memory on the readings. I used the UCSB library for the first time to find credible sources for my topic; "Elementary Writing" My reflection that week focused on how narrowing down search terms and finding useful keywords that made a huge difference in finding relevant information. This was a skill I didn’t know I needed, but learning it gave me confidence in tackling research for both academic and personal projects.

The Body of Writing 2

     Week 3 was a turning point for me. We dove into Jennifer Wells’s “Dispositions Towards Learning,” which opened my eyes to the various factors that impact one’s ability to learn. Wells' piece really stuck with me, as throughout all the Porjects, I constantly look about to her ideas and remind myself that I must believe in the end product to produce quality work. In my reflection, I connected this reading to my own learning habits, realizing how my moods and motivation played a role in my engagement with Writing 2. This was just the beginning of "aha" moments during Writh 2 where I realize that learning is not just about the effort, that it is about the mindset.

     During Week 4, the Reading Journals started to make more sense to me. At first, I thought they were just busywork, but as I wrote about Wells’s Dispositions and other readings and watching videos, (just another example on how much Wells' work impacts my learning during Writing 2) I saw how they helped me remember information and understand the material on a deeper level. Prior to the Reading Journals, I would not be able to hold in the information well, so the reading journals and reflections changed the way I was able to perform in Writing 2. In my reflection that week, I compared the Reading Journals to the initial drop on the Guardians of the Galaxy ride: uncomfortable at first but ultimately rewarding.

     By Week 5, we began exploring Project 2, and I started to see the connections between our readings and the idea of genre and discourse communities but not fully understanding what each meant. This week stood out because I struggled with figuring out how to organize my ideas, but I reflected on the importance of trial and error after many attempts on creating a system to organize the sources for Project 2. Writing about my challenges helped me break down the process and trust that I’d figure it out as Wells' explained.

     Week 6 introduced me to discourse communities, a concept that had a lasting impact on me. The Discourse Communities video by Writing FIU helped me see how shared goals, language, and values shape groups. In my reflection, I connected this to my sports betting group, where I had to learn the lingo and adapt to the community. I also realized that Writing 2 itself was a discourse community, with its own shared purpose of improving our writing.

     In Week 7, I hit a low point in the first quarter of my college years, I blanked out during my math midterm, which made me feel defeated. My reflection that week was a space for me to process what went wrong and how I could bounce back. It was a bad week overrall but I had to trust that I can reflect on my mistakes and get back up again.  This was also when I began to see the value of weekly reflections as more than just assignments, they became a way to take a pause and find clarity in moments of frustration.

     By Week 8, I had started applying what I learned in Writing 2 to my tinting business. Narrowing down search terms and reflecting on my weekly progress helped me improve how I marketed my services by creating hashtags in my social media posts to attract my attended audience. In my reflection, I celebrated these small victories and saw how the skills I was developing in class had practical applications in my personal and professional life.

    During Week 9, peer reviews on Eli Review for Project 2 showed me the importance of collaboration. My reflection that week highlighted how valuable it was to receive feedback and how much I learned from my classmates’ perspectives.

Week 10

     At last, I am now able to look back on the entire quarter and felt a deep sense of gratitude. Writing 2 wasn’t just about completing assignments and reading, it was about discovering who I am as a writer and a learner. My reflections that week were filled with pride as I saw how far I’d come since Week 1, from being scared about Writing 2 to being grateful for the bumps along the way. The weekly reflections became a habit that happened even outside of Writing 2. I started journaling about my business, my relationship, and my personal goals. Whenever I felt stuck, I’d take a step back and a moment to breathe and reflect on what went well and where I could improve. Writing 2 taught me that growth isn’t always a straight line and that there are ups and downs, but each experience offers a chance to learn. By the end of the Writing 2, I felt a profound sense of accomplishment. Writing 2 wasn’t just another class, to me it was a transformative journey. The weekly reflections helped me connect the lessons of the course to my everyday life, and they’ll continue to guide me as I move forward.

Reflecting on Growth

Week 1

Week 2

The Body of Writing 2

Week 10

Works Citied

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