Class Reflection

My favorite part of this class has been that it taught me to constantly work on my writing and not just accept it the first time. That a piece of writing is never really finished and to never give up on working on it.

ABC...

Although these halls are filled with good and bad memories I would not change a thing. Being in this building every day taught me lessons in life and not only the classroom. Chatting it up with friends never got old no matter how many days passed. Doing the same old thing might have seemed boring but I guess it was not all that bad. Every day that I came to this building brought me one day closer to the last. Finding out how close we are to the end is almost a little scary. Getting that diploma still feels unreal, like it will never happen. High school is a time for memories, friends, and experiencing life. I know I got everything out of it that I could. Just because it caused some tears doesn't mean I'd take any of it back. Knowing that it made me the person I am gives me a good feeling inside. Learning about english, math, and science wasn't all this building gave me. My friends and I have been counting down the days for weeks now. Nine days, eight days, seven...and now it's less than a week. Opening those doors on the last day will seem unreal, walking out to the parking lot and leaving for the las time. Parents will sit in the gym a few days later and cry about how their baby is all grown up. Quiet tears will fall from their eyes and loud cheers will escape from our lips. Robes and caps will turn into a maroon see as we stand as a class one last time. So many hours lead up to this moment, I can't believe it is finally here. To my surprise I'm almost a little bit sad that this journey is over. Under all of the daily complaints I guess part of me will miss this place. Values changed as I went through my life here but I guess it's time to move on. Where I will move on to next I'm not really sure. X-rays of my heart and mind couldn't even describe this feeling. Yet I bet I'm not the only one thinking this right now. Zoning back in and away from my thoughts just in time to hear “I now present to you the class of 2011.”

Revising Goals

1. Making everything specific and try to make it as relatable as possible.
2. Going over descriptive words and making sure they are the best ones possible.
3. Editing issues. (spelling, punctuation, etc.)
My plan is to go through my goals one by one on all of the pieces. I put editing issues last so that all of my wording will be correct before I fix my punctuation mistakes.

Letter

Dear New Resident,
Not everyone is lucky enough to grow up in one house throughout their whole childhood, but I was. The room you found this in was once my room, for 18 years in fact. The walls always remained plain white, but plenty changed throughout the years. Of course the crib turned to a real bed. Childish artwork into band posters and pictures with friends. At one time my blankets were dark blue with pink and yellow flowers on it then later it was checkered with black, blue, and green. Thats the comforter I took with me when I moved to college. Anyhow my toys turned to magazines and my closet became twice as full. I took my first steps in this room and got my first kiss. I had my boom box sitting in the corner, it was almost always on. All my books and journals sat on the top shelf of my closet. Anyhow I don't know who you are. I don't know how old you are. I don't know what kind of music you listen to. I don't know anything about you. I just hope this room means as much to you as it did to me. I hope you can look out that window every morning and see your family's farm just like I did. I hope you get to grow up here like I did. After all, everyone needs a home and even though it's different...well this is still mine.
Sincerely,
Someone Who Cares

Places Marathon

Just a building to some, but not to me. I remember when I use to dream about what high school would be like. Turns out I was completely wrong, but thats okay. I expected everything to be different when in reality it wasn't a drastic change. It was slow and steady instead of rapid and quick. I took so many classes in this building. Walked down the hallways so many times. Met so many new people. Even lost a few friends along the way. It's crazy to think that this building is so close to being in my past. Only a few days left and it seems unreal. This building changed my life and made me who I am in a way. I won't forget this building, after all 7 years don't just disappear.

So many hours spent on this land. Out on the course and in the club house too. I've played lots of courses before but of course I know this one the best. The creek that runs in front of the first hole and along side the second. The small pond straight to the right of number 6. At times I've felt like certain trees and hills always magically bring my ball over to it, putting me right where I didn't want to be. Trees that have been hit so many times it's unreal and water that has taken so many balls. You can start in one mood and leave in another. Funny how a place can change your mind set so quickly.

This house is a home to someone, even though it isn't to me. Cream colored siding with white shutters on all the windows. It looks pretty cozy from the outside. A big garage that could fit two cars easily and a back porch for grill outs and family picnics. I bet these people have kids, probably with a backyard like that. I see a leash tied down too so they must have a dog. I hope I can have a house like that someday, one that looks like a family should live in it. But I guess I really don't know if one is in there. Maybe it's just a couple or even someone by themselves, but I'm pretty sure it's a family.

The Land Behind The School

It was the land behind the high school that I attended for all four years. Surrounded by bleachers that would be filled with happy fans, cheering on the home team. In the fall it was our boys wearing shoulder pads and helmets. Then in the spring runners in shorts and a jersey. It was one dream surrounded by another. Inside the football boys with green grass, a goal at each end and a scoreboard. Then on the outside it was slick black pavement with four lanes for the track team. The land where practices are held, limits are pushed, and dreams can become a reality if only you put in the work.

The Weather is Full of Promise

I could instantly relate to this piece, because the narrator is talking about Iowa weather and considering I've always lived in Iowa I understand the different types of weather. This chapter reminded me of "The Weather Shifts" by Arthur Sze because both pieces discuss how weather can have an impact on your mood. It also discusses how much age changes the way you see weather and it is very true. When I was younger I saw snow and got excited, I saw sleds, snowmen, and snow days. Now I see driving extra slow, extra dirty restaurant floor, and days added to the end of the year. I believe weather can have a huge impact on how someone is feeling or sees a certain place. I really enjoyed reading this piece.

Homing In Passages

1. She sold real estate, and our family would help maintain the national average by moving every two or three years, but not very far. One time into the green-shuttered house next door on Orchard Street, then two blocks over to Keef Avenue. (51)
RESPONSE: This passage really grabbed my attention, because to me it means there was never a set "home" in the narrators life. Even though he states it was never very far it tells me there was never one set place during his childhood where memories were made and he grew up. I think this could have a big impact on his stability later in life.
2. Even my ex-wife, who wanted some honest distance between us, said, "Don't go out to the Midwest, don't go there." She said it was barren and flat and full of Bibles. (52)
3. But I'd already signed the contract to teach at a coed boarding school in Michigan, a place I'd been and didn't much want to be. (52)
4. "I arrived in heavy rain. No letup for three straight days, and I went stir crazy finally in the knotty-pine-walled cabin I'd rented from the school, classes still two weeks away. A ghost community." (53)
5. "But I believed in omens and signs, and when the sky cleared before the bottle emptied, I took a walk, which, on this campus, meant into the woods--1,800 acres between two lakes, Wahbekaness and Wahbekanetta: "water lingers, water lingers again."(53)
6. "At this moment in the moonlight I imagine that the trim on the trailer house is pink, and that the man is a decent man but a bad drinker--half an hour? All day? How about six months? Perhaps custody of his son depends on the man's sobriety, though who would drive out so late on a night like this to check?" (54)
7. "This is the north country. The bridge across the Mackinac Straits is the longest suspension bridge in the world, connecting the landmass of lower Michigan to the Upper Peninsula (referred to as the U.P.)" (55)
8. "It's already October, and for the past half hour the blue heron has kept his outpost at the first bend, knee-deep in shallows. But now he spreads his enormous wings and rises slow-motion, gliding downriver above the last of the cardinal flowers: blue heron, red cardinal flowers." (56)
9. "So let another winger come. Let it take us where it will." (60)

Just a creek in the woods

You could probably drive past that creek without a second glance, after all it looks just like any other one in Iowa. If you walk along beside it down into the woods you'll come across a swinging bench. It's made of wood and perfectly placed so you can see through an opening in the trees. I promise you it looks beautiful in any type of weather or any time of day and night. In the rain it's empowering and noisy in the wind. The creek will rush and splash as every raindrop hits. Then the morning after in the sunshine and wet grass it will reflect more beauty than you thought imaginable. Silent and peaceful as the animals return out from under cover. It's even better if you share the view with someone else, holding your hand and speaking words you've always wanted to hear and say. Letting nature take you under it's wing and forgetting there's a world outside of those woods. Rain could make you cold, but their arms could warm you. The sun could warm you both as you swing and watch the animals. But then again you probably don't see that when you pass by, you probably just see a creek in the woods.

What is Place?

To me place is not simply the land but everything that is interacting in that environment. Place is always changing and never stays the same, because something or someone in that place is changing it. Once you enter a place it will not be exactly the same when you leave. It has to do with the animals that live there, plants that grow there, people that visit there, or even causes that destroy it in some cases.

Week 7 Reflection

I feel like throughout the trimester so far I have been focusing on making sure my pieces can relate to a specific audience. If a piece is too general it may be read by lots of different people, but that doesn't mean they will understand or connect with it. I feel by adding specific examples and descriptions it makes the piece more personal. I think that is one thing I have gotten better with. Also I feel another thing I try to focus on is exploring with different types of writing styles, different endings, and beginnings. I will often experiment with many different ways to write something before I make a final decision now. Over all I feel my techniques and strategies have been improved. Also I realize that with every piece I write it is new experience and a new lesson can be learned from it.

So Who's To Say?

Society has expectations
That no one ever meets
But what's so wrong with
Marching to a different beat?

It doesn't make you wrong
Or bad in any way
If you go with what you feel
And not care what they say.

It's all anyone wants
To be accepted as a whole
Without changing anything
Or trying to fit the mold.

Be a different color
Because you're one of a kind
Take a chance once in awhile
Don't be afraid to speak your mind.

Words can hurt like fire
Even when there cold as ice
But no one can make you feel
Like you're less than suffice.


*this is just a start to my next individual piece, questions, comments, advice??*

The truth is I can't drive to come see you,
We won't ever fish by the lake again,
The truth is our family will never be the same,
You'll only be able to see those moments from heaven.

The biggest change I made to my last stanza was point-blank saying what the poem was about by adding the part about being in heaven. I can't decide if I want to leave I a little mysterious or point blank like this? Opinions?

Hurt This Much

Maybe if it was just a drive,
Down that highway to get to you,
Maybe if it was that easy,
It might not hurt this much.

Think if I could visit the past,
All those weekends by the lake,
Think if we could fish one last time,
It might not hurt this this much

What if it was that simple,
To connect this family once again,
What if I could hear your laugh one more time,
It might not hurt this much.

If I imagine you at my graduation,
With that big smile on your face,
If I imagine you at my wedding,
It might not hurt this much.

The truth is you are too far away
I can't go back to that time,
The truth is our family will never be the same,
You won't be there for those special moments.

The truth is it does hurt too much.


*This is my first piece for our own writing, please comment*

Poetry

Today our lesson was on poetry, and last week after our interviews I wrote a poem so I decided to take another look at that piece.
The day I learned the feeling,
Of complete terror and fear,
Never had I imagined such a feeling,
In all my sixteen years.
I thought I was invincible,
I thought my plan was full proof,
But it turns out it was another mistake I made,
During my inexperienced youth.
The cops caught me red-handed,
I was so stunned I couldn't even lie,
As they locked me in those silver bracelets,
I wanted to break down and cry.
Wondering how I could be so stupid,
Oh and what my parent's will say,
Our family is so closely knit,
I hope that won't be changed by today.
It was just another mistake a I made,
In irresponsible youth,
It was just another day,
Back when I thought I was bullet-proof.

Thinking Lead

We were never really close, in fact I don't remember very many good memories between us at all. There was probably only a handful of them, and the bad always stand out more than the good. I bet that's true with a lot of things though, it seems to me that people always remember more pain then happiness. Anyways I always complained about him but I never thought it would end like this. I never wanted this.

I decided to practice a thinking lead, because I enjoy them most. I think it's a really personal and emotional way of connecting with the reader.

Writing Marathon

I watched it fly away with it's wings spread wide, soaring high into the sky. Part of me wondered where it must be going. After all the possibilities are endless, that must be nice. I wish I had that freedom and power. The best part about it was no one would know, there would be no one to answer to or explain myself to. Just me and freedom. Maybe that is why birds always seem so peaceful and why people describe their chirps as sining. After all it is a happy noise, wouldn't you be happy if you had that freedom? Right under their wings they have the power to go and never be seen again. Yeah, if I ever wanted to be an animal it was in that moment.

Prompt--Place

Three Rows of Gold
It was three rows long, with ten hay-bails each,
on the edge of the land where the family use to meet.
Laughter still echos and memories still shine,
after so many years of growing and passing time.
The four of us always loved jumping from row to row,
or maybe it was the company we enjoyed so.
Two younger sister's, two older brother's,
Related by heart but not father or mother.
The rows are still there,
even after all these years have passed.
Though the children are not the same,
it's a different generation, children of a different name.
Though we still stand and watch from the side,
underneath that old pine.

Prompt--Emotional Object

It's not like most stuffed animals, filled with fluff like a pillow, instead it contains little beads that would slowly leak out if a seam ever broke. Bead so tiny that it was hard to imagine how many that stuffed frog contained. Which made it heavier to pick up but for some reason felt much more enchanting compared to being stuffed with fluff. The outside has an irregular pattern of colors, a little bit of everything really. There is some blue, green, purple, red, orange, and yellow scattered all over it's back; however, the belly is solid yellow. The smell is the only downfall, since the slight aroma of cigarette smoke will forever be attached. This come's from Grandpa's smoking. I always grabbed the frog the moment I walked into the house and carried it to the couch. Very rarely was I in that apartment without the frog in my lap. It's about the size of a football and he always told me it was too big of a frog for such a little girl, but I didn't care. I took that frog from his apartment the day we cleaned it out, about a week after the funeral. It's faded now, the colors aren't quite as bright anymore, but it still occasionally sits on my lap.

Vignette Response

As I am revising my vignettes I am really focusing on making the reader see the scene and feel the emotions. All of my pieces focus on a different aspect of my life, things that are tiny but that I enjoy greatly. I think that people too often look over small things in life that bring happiness and I hope my writing can help change that. I want the reader to understand that even though they may not enjoy the same "little things" that I do they have their own to enjoy. To me it means seeing past bad things that may happen and remembering life has an unlimited amount of natural beauty.

Vignette Preview

There's nothing better to wake up to, at least not in my mind. The fresh smell brewing in the kitchen. I hear the snap and crackle of the machine, quiet but the sounds stands out to my ears. Some say it tastes bitter but nothing else tastes quite as good in the morning. I rise out of bed and walk to the kitchen, grabbing my own personal mug. I lift the pot and watch the black river steam and run downwards. After replacing the pot on the burner I lift the mug to my lips and take my first sip. The perfect start to another day.

I would like Press responses.

10 Minute Free Write

As I walk down the pebble path that leads through the park three blocks from my house my head turns every which way amazed by all the beauty. First I notice the smell of the trees oak, pine, maple...my senses can hardly handle all of them at once but I wouldn't dare dismiss one of them and miss out on the beauty. I hear the birds chirping and singing high up in the trees. Look up to the sky wondering if any of them are flying above me. Wondering how the world looks from up there. They must get the best view of any creature on this earth. They can see anything from any point of view. How beautiful it must be to have wings. Squirrels run around on the ground. Searching for food. Surviving in their own way. Every creature just living in exactly their own way. Little ones feed the geese in the pond, squeeling and running away but smiling at the same time. Children laugh and giggle as they fly high on the swing or race down the slide at a speed they feel invincible. The parents watching on that bench smiling and proud. Enjoying every moment. Memorizing the beauty of their little angel. Then there's the old couples out for a brisk walk. Getting exercise just like the doctor probably told them to. Walking hand in hand like they have been for many years. You can see the love radiating off of them. It makes a young teenager like me hope that someday I can get there with the one I love. Ah love, maybe the most beautiful thing of all. Seeing someone for who they really are. Into the depths of their soul. When the skeletons in your closet don't really matter anymore and ever new discovery is a surprise and another reason to love them. To let down your guards and tear down those walls. To love and to be loved. To have what those old couples do. This is why I love walking through the park. Nature's beauty. Humanity's beauty. The beauty that most people don't notice. Just because you see something every day doesn't mean it isn't beautiful. If you see a baby smile a hundred times it doesn't make it any less. If you see someone you love a million times it doesn't mean you should pass up one opportunity. Because I can guarantee that once you never see that something or someone again, you'd be praying to see their beauty and do anything for one last glance.

Anything Creative Assignment

A Comfortable Silence

The breeze is soft,
It's hardly even there,
It's almost as soft,
As his hand brushing my hair.
The porch is peaceful,
As the dogs run round in the yard,
I move a little closer,
And fit perfectly in his arms.
The swing goes back and forth,
As I sip my ice tea,
I can't help but admire,
The man sitting next to me.
When silence can be comfortable,
It's quite a beautiful thing,
And sharing it with someone so special,
Reminds me off all the happiness life can bring.

Revising Reflections

I have finished revising my first draft of my This I Believe paper and feel I am on a very good track. One of the biggest revisions I made was making sure my paper did not become repetitive. I did this so the readers stay interested in my paper, because even though the whole thing is over one belief there is plenty for me to say about it. Something else I tried doing was making sure each paragraph opened with a great attention getter. I tried to use a quote, rhetorical question, or strong statement to grab the reader not only in the beginning of my paper but for each section. I feel these changes will make my paper more interesting for the reader.
My biggest issue so far is more with editing rather than revising, I am terrible with commas, but I am trying not to worry about that too much yet. I did not receive very much feedback for my paper, because I actually didn't get any suggestions, everyone told me it was already good. So I feel confident in the changes I made because they came from my mind and were what I wanted to see in my paper instead of others. Although more feedback from others would have been helpful. I am very hopeful that I will receive more advice during the next peer review.

Personal Essay Revising Goals

Goal #1: Make it so the reader can feel what I was feeling in the scene.

• I'll do this by adding more descriptions and laying out the scene more clearly.

Goal #2: Make sure it does not become repetitive.

• Although the paper is about one belief I want to make sure I don't repeat myself too much and bore the reader. I'll do this by using a variety of strategies instead of just stories or just quotes.
  

Goal #3: Make sure it can relate to everyone, not just me.

• I know this paper is about what I believe and why I believe it, but I want to use evidence from other people's lives so that it can relate to a wide variety of readers.
  

Personal Essay Reflection #1

I have finished writing my rough draft for my personal essay, however, my journey with it has only just begun. As a writer I know I can spout out rough drafts pretty quickly if I know what I want to say, but I also know there will be plenty of work to do after. I leave room for additions and am also open to cutting things out. In fact I really believe a piece of writing is never really finished. Just because you turn it in doesn't mean it's over.
I feel the hardest part of this assignment is focusing on one belief only. I have a wide variety of things I believe in and I find it hard to focus on only one of them, mostly because they are all linked together in some way or another. I found myself getting off track a few times while writing and I had to go back and fix it. However, I know it is good for me to practice writing on one particular topic and being able to share stories from my life makes it a lot easier. I think I'm on a very good path with my essay so far!

Reaching My Full Potential

All of us are works in progress with a long way to go before we reach our full potential.

In what skill or area are you still working to make progress?

I believe that a person must be well rounded to be successful in life. Although I know I am a hard worker and have good values as a person I often have trouble trusting that other people are as honest as I am. I understand that trusting everyone who comes into my life would be a stupid and irresponsible choice but I am also beginning to realize the opposite closes me off from certain opportunities. I am trying to become better at trusting people and giving them a chance before closing them out assuming their intention is to do me wrong. There are very few paths a person can take in life and I do not want to lose out on chances because of my inability to trust people. In one of my classes at the beginning of the year we were assigned a group project, but were given the option of doing it alone even though it would be more work. I chose to do it alone because of the fact I hate group projects; I always worry the other members will not do their share of the work and will result in me getting brought down with them. I cannot trust people to do things for me, I must do them for myself.

Poem- Perspective Writing

It's sitting in the solitude,
Calm and relaxing at it's best.
Forming an idea for a topic,
and your own ideas with that.
Beginning with a thought, question, or idea,
That can be sparked by anything.
Whether it's a pen and paper,
or keyboard and a screen.
Thing's will be discovered,
Suspicions will come a reality.
Although frustration may occur,
Or not flow so smoothly.
The thrill will become the prize
When the words come out perfectly.

Bio Post

I am Miranda Henningsen, 17 years young and a senior at Grundy Center High School. I have bright red hair, deep green eyes, love country music, and work harder than I should. I've been a waitress at Johnny Rays sport's bar and grill for about three years and too often do people ask me if I ever leave, that is how often I am there. I believe everyone should work for what they have and nothing comes free in life. I have one older brother whom I am not very close with and am a complete daddy's girl. When I first meet someone I can be pretty shy and quite, but once someone spends time getting to know me my true colors really know. I love to laugh, make jokes, enjoy the simple things in life, and know I have tried my hardest in everything I've attempted in life.