Writing History Response

If I recall correctly, it took me six years to realize what an extraordinary influence that writing had on my life.  My admiration of the various values that writing opens one up to was erupted by what rested beside my head nightly.

 At six years old, no one could take my nose out of a book, regardless of the type. It first was my mother who gave me her spare change weekly to order scholastic novels. This became known as the beginning and the foundation of my writing history. Curiosity began to arise in my mind and I sought out to explore the world of literature. Most of my free time was spent at my elementary school’s book fair, or in our community’s local library. Right after school, every three to four days, I elected novels to be read to me by my older sister. My library card became an everyday necessity and eventually I craved for knowledge and creativity to feed to my brain. For a year or two I stayed consistent with construing in what I recognized as my favorite series of novels, the Magic School Bus. The novel’s level of creativity exceeded what my mind was familiar with but by reading the novels repeatedly I became accustomed to this foreign style.  Reading the Magic School Bus even inspired me to create a scholastic novel of my own.

From elementary school up until middle school my peers identified me as the extremely tall individual who wore “magnified glasses”.  I vividly remember trailing in the pack while going to lunch, leaning unaccompanied against the wall at socials, and sitting in the back seats of the yellow bus everyday as we pulled up to Hodge Road Elementary. All of this resulted because of my love for literature.  Three of the toughest years of my life flew by. Good posture, trended clothes that fit, and the “bad boy attitude” began to sprout. There was a drastic change in how I talked, what I wore, and the activities I was engaged in. All of these factors affected the maturity of my views.

One, as a writer, is typically molded by a high level of influence. In this case my parents, teachers or mentors, and peers shaped my views as a writer. It was through my experiences with them in and outside of school that evolved me into the writer that I am currently. My senior year, in AP English IV, I had to conduct a paper indicating and describing a person who had a significant influence on me. Because I have experienced such a strong mother-son relationship with my mother I was able to lay out my story for the reader. Absorbing the teachings of my parents and instructors enabled me to further expand my knowledge. Through their teachings I have learned the importance of gaining knowledge and applying it, not just through literature, but also through my experiences.

Not only have I engendered trust in writing, but I have also gained confidence in approaching my writing. Experimenting and consistently adding onto my writing styles has shaped how I approach my writing.  First off, I begin by brainstorming what I am going to write about but I always remember to keep the audience in mind. Then, I proceed to write and once I am finished, I always encourage myself to get someone to proofread and peer edited my work. Once the first draft is proofread and edited I then revise my work for the final draft. Even though the amount of creativity in one’s work is what interests me the most, structure and organization is still a key component in one’s work. Most importantly, I have learned that it is important to be comfortable when you approach writing and to build your own unique path for the reader to engage in and connect with.  

Sometimes I think that the world around me is crumbling to the ground, but it never does because I am able to tackle the endless troubles that life offers through writing.  While the raw experiences I have at school, home, the library or in the local community will forever remain as history, I have learned to truly value them. Writing has molded my life and has given me a passion for learning and obtaining a distinct individuality. Not having to always worry about who is criticizing me for who I am is the type of mentality that I respect. Also, it is the type of mentality that allows me to adapt to what I have acquired through my writing experiences.