Reflective Essay

Over the coarse of my student career, I have constantly faced problems regarding writing. I never considered myself to be particularly skilled in the subject; I have constantly battled my writings skills, improving them step by step. I have developed a specific editing process for my writing that has allowed me to finally become successful. As a result of my perseverance, I now feel confident while writing and have even felt some pride regarding some of the pieces I have written. Because of my perseverant attitude toward writing, I have developed a successfully consistent writing practice and now feel confident in my writing skills. 

As a writer, ASTI was a huge change for me. I went from being in a low expectations middle school to college expectations high school. I was in dire need of writing assistance. Before I went to ASTI, I knew nothing of writing skills; a thesis was foreign to me, concrete details and support were unheard of. My English teacher, Ms. Valdez, eventually straightened my skills up. I learned the basics of an essay, writings skills and techniques, and received feedback on each essay I wrote. This strategy was a great help to me. I carried this help to my sophomore year. Unfortunately, I needed to regain these skills at the beginning of the year. A great example of this is the first assignment assigned  at the beginning of the year, “Just Kidding and Ganging Up.” I had no structure, bad syntax, and much of the writing was repetitive. I was repeating the process I went through in freshmen year. Eventually, I regained these skills through Mr. Sutherland. Examples of this would be “Political” and "Dinosaurs Essay.” I have now perfected my writing skills, such as my blog posts “Religion” and “Night Essay.” Each year, I go through the same process of regaining my writing skills. As a result, I have developed an editing process that has helped me succeed and develop more writing skills. 

I have a specialized editing process that I have developed over the coarse of my writing career which I feel has helped me become a successful writer. I have also developed my writing skills as a result of this too. In my editing process, I have three drafts to an essay: third draft, second draft, and first draft. These drafts are all used to edit and examine different aspects of an essay. In the third draft, I look for general errors, which can include confusing segments, spelling errors, grammar, ect. In the second draft, I look for specifically syntax and diction errors. The final draft is the product of my third and second drafts. This process has allowed me to gain decent grades throughout my writing career.  I am slowly becoming a better writer. I have many pieces of writing that I have favored as a result of this process; I am proud of the work I have accomplished over the past years, especially in my writing two class. 

My favorite writing piece is “Religion.” This is my favorite piece because of my analysis on religion. I feel that I wrote about it in a meaningful way that allowed me to understand religion more myself. In the process of writing it, I began to realize critical aspects based on my opinion of religion. I feel that this process was a great realization to me because I analysis it so well. Analyzation is one of my strong points in writing and is a great example in this piece. I analyzed fairly and without opinion while writing. Usually, I always base critical subjects on my opinion. I feel that because I analyzed religion without opinion, I learned and realized more about it than I have in a lifetime. This free-write allowed me to learn about myself and religion, a topic that I have always been extremely biased and opinionated on.

As you can see, writing always develops and improves for me over the coarse of the year. I always need to review my old learning habits and techniques in order to stay successful again; final products result in essays such as “Night” and “Religion.” Currently, I also believe that from writing this, I have come to learn even more from my writing skills and techniques; I have analyzed my previous writing assignments. 

Throughout the coarse of the year, my writing develops. I feel that a great help to this development is my editing process, which has always been a great help to my writing strategies and techniques. I feel that this has been a great process for myself because I have stayed a successful student, in writing particularly. This is because each time I re-learn my writing techniques, I learn and gain more information on the process. Because of this, I now feel that my writing techniques are strong and I can produce decent works of writing that can reflect a college level of thinking(analysis) and technique(diction and syntax). This blog itself is proof of this development. As you would be able to see, the articles I published developed in many different aspects, until the end, which consisted of great writing, in my opinion. 

This blog has shown me the development I have made in writing and how I can generally improve to create even more efficient pieces of writing that could be considered college material. 

I have been able to learn from this experience and hopefully can continue learning throughout the year in my blogging experience; I want to open up my mind to new and techniques and writing strategies so that I can become even more successful. I feel this will be possible as long as my blog reflects positive change in my writing pieces. If I can successfully become a better writer by the end of the quarter, I will be extremely happy. Change and progress reflect hard work and good grades in my future writing assignments. This blog has opened up my life to new writing skills that will allow me to become a better student throughout the year.

"Night Essay"

Many people's lives are changed and shaped by their environment. In the memoir "Night" by Elie Wiesel, a story is told of the Holocaust, a genocide against the Jewish race. This event affected and changed many victims live's; this memoir particularly portrays Elie Wisel's life in the Holocaust. The horrific and profuse events Wiesel experienced changed the way he looked at life. The central conflict in "Night" is self because of the life changing situations Elie Wisel faced during the Holocaust.

When Wiesel and other Jewish people were taken to Nazi concentration camps, their former lives had been completely uprooted and changed. Holocaust victims had never been exposed to the horrors of the Holocaust. "People refused not only to believe his stories, but even to listen to them,"(Wisel 4). Many Jews refused to believe the horrific events told of the survivors. They couldn't accept it; it was the twentieth century, and no act had ever been committed so atrocious before. This alone is why many Jewish people's lives had been dramatically changed. During he Holocaust, their lives had been filled with ongoing events so abhorrent that many became disturbed forever. At first exposure, many victims hope's were high. They didn't know the full extent of the holocaust barbarity. They still felt the freedom and hope of their former lives. "Let the world learn of the existence of Auschwitz. Let everybody hear about it while they can still escape..."(Wisel 29). Many did not know of the reality of the Holocaust. Their lives had not yet been affected by it. Because of this, they felt their was still a chance of hope. These feelings were temporary though; their lives would soon change. 

Eventually, Elie had learned of the reality of the Holocaust. He and other victims were consequently beginning to loose the former hope they once possessed. "'Where is He? Here He is-He is hanging, here on the gallows.'"(Wisel 162). Victims began to loose faith in life. They no longer felt any need to live, not with a threat of death looming over their heads. They had been exposed to the worst; friends, family, and loved ones deaths. They felt their death coming too and began to accept their fate. This was the end for many victims. They no longer had a need to live. 

In Elie's case, he witnessed his father slowly die. Once his father died, he lost hope. He no longer cared about anything in his surrounding world. "'Here, every man has to fight for himself and not think of anyone else. Even of his father. Here there are no fathers, no brothers, no friends. Everyone lives and dies alone,"(Wisel 105). He developed a mentality based only on survival. He had nothing else to loose. The Holocaust had changed his mentality towards life; he had lost all hope. 

Eli's life was dramatically changed because of the Holocaust. He lost everything and because of this lost hope in himself. His life was based from hope to survival. He himself had been radically changed. I suppose Wisel wrote his memoir to send a message or remembrance; events like the Holocaust should never happen again. 

Responce to Aleah's post "Thoughts"

While reading numerous blog posts, I came across an interesting post written by Aleah. She says:

"Not to judge anyone but I think that if certain people at ASTI went to another school they wouldn't be the same person. I believe that other people do shape the way another human beings can think or act," (Aleah).

I believe that ASTI is a huge change for people coming in from regular public school, or even some private schools. It requires lots of work; you are forced to either learn and succeed or fail. Learning in an environment like this, I feel you are greatly changed as an individual. You are forced to shape your life around school and learning. These changes can have many impacts on you, whether negative or positive. 


Going to a "regular" school, you can pass while hardly doing any school work, have a great social life, and have fun in school. You have much more control over your life when going to an easy going public school like Encinal or Alameda. When coming to ASTI, much of your former life is forced to change. The biggest change people are usually forced to make is their learning habits. There is a much more intense curriculum while at ASTI; learning in execrated and you have to be prepared for college in two years. This requires lots of studying and intense learning. In this process, I feel that much of your social life is changed by this because school becomes such a big part of your life.


When I arrived at ASTI, I had to face these changes. I felt that I could continue my former learning life, soon realized that I couldn't when my grades began to drop. I was forced to adapt new learning habits. I will now always have these learning habits, at school, and even after. ASTI has changed the way I look at work, in particular school. Because of these changes, I feel that my social life has been changed though. I do not have the time I once had to hang out with friends after school or on the weekends. My life has been greatly changed because of ASTI.


Attending a school that has strict learning requirements has its consequences. I am prepared to make as many sacrifices as I need to become successful in life though. ASTI has definitely changed me as a person. 

Free Write: Religion

Religion is an issue of extreme controversy. For years, people have had to decide whether they believe God is real or simply unreal. I believe this topic has been so controversial because for many people, religion is one of the biggest ways humans define their identity; for many it is their most fundamental idea of who they are. Once you have defined your identity, anyone who disagrees with you is a threat to your being. One of the ways people defend themselves in this context is persuasion; this leads to groups of people debating about the topics of religion.

I personally do not believe in a God. I am considered to be an Atheist. Throughout the coarse of my life, I have never exposed myself to religion. I suppose that is why I feel God does not exist. I feel that the choices of religion are all based on the environment you are constantly exposed to throughout your life. For example, if your parents believe in God, they will most-likely teach you to believe in God too; I was never taught to believe in God, hence my belief. I do not feel that you can find God; I feel that you can be taught to find him.

Although I feel this way, I still see religion as a a source of morals and guidelines to follow throughout your life, and also hope. In the many religious books, there are usually stories that promote the ideas of morals and teach you ways to live life "properly." I also believe religion is a source of hope for many. For the people who are religious, it gives people comfort that when they die, they will go to a better place. Many people say religion allows you to go to heaven. I completely disagree with this. Even though I do not believe in God, I do not believe I am going to hell. I feel that religion in this context is simply being used as a way to persuade people to believe in God. 

I despise when people use religion in their own benefit. In many instances, it has been used in ways to control people's lives. When in history class, Mr. Fargher has emphasized this point time and time again. Also, religion can have many negative impacts when used to promote the ideas of something incorrectly.

For example, religion has been used to justify the holocaust, promote the idea that being gay is wrong, start wars, and many other negative instances. Religion should never be used like this; It is wrong and immoral.

What is your opinion on religion? I would be extremely interested to know and learn different opinions as  to your belief in God, what they feel religion is used for, ect. . Also, please do not take my opinion on religion negatively. It is my belief and opinion. If you wish to tell me what you feel, respond to my post. Thanks!

free topic: my learning styles

Intrapersonal Intelligence is the strongest aspect of the way I mainly choose to learn. In knowing I am intrapersonal, I know my own self very well. “The person with intrapersonal intelligence can be inroverted, prefers to work alone, and has a clear knowledge of what he or she needs in most settings,” (wisegeek.com). The reason I can work and learn so well by myself is that I know myself very well. Because I know myself so easily, I know the best ways to study alone that will allow me to be a successful student. I have a clear knowledge of what I need in order to study successfully. Although I have a clear knowledge of what I need to be a successful student, the biggest danger involved with intrapersonal intelligence is your social life. “The inherent danger of intrapersonal intelligence is that the person becomes too reclusive because he or she is most satisfied by his or her own thoughts or work,” (wisegeek.com). Intrapersonal intelligence sometimes keeps you reclusive and antisocial because of the fact that you mainly rely on yourself for help, and do not go to others for help as much as yourself.

My second most used way of learning is musical/rhythmic intelligence. Because of this, I tend to study very well while listening to a beat or music. “Just think of how music can calm you when you are stressed, stimulate you when you are bored, and help you attain a steady thythm in such things as typing and exercising,” (wikispaces.umb.edu). When I listen to music and do daily school homework, I tend to learn and absorb much more information quickly compared to if I wasn’t listening to music. This allows me to learn quickly. Also, music motivates me to finish my school homework; I am extremely motivated when I listen to music. Although I learn quickly and am motivated by musical/rhythmic intelligence, I sometimes tend to go off topic when I listen to music. I sometimes need to work on staying on topic while listening because it motivates me to do other things besides school work. Because of Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence, I can learn quickly and easily, which greatly helps my school career at ASTI.

Facebook Addiction Responce

If anyone has yet to discover facebook, I will give you a warning now: facebook is addictive.

Facebook is a big aspect of my life," (Andy Lau).

I find that from what Andy has said, I can easily relate to his opinion on facebook. I too, have faced difficulties regarding facebook and its addiction problem. I feel that I have acquired that problem because of one reason; facebook is your virtual social life. Facebook is meant to be used for one reason, which is to connect with all your friends and create a huge social network. It is used to connect with friends in ways such as emailing, instant messaging, sharing pictures, ect. . Basically, facebook allows you to virtually connect with all your friends in any way imaginable.

Addiction is a big part of facebook. I feel that many people have aquired the addiction because they simply bored, stuck at home, and have nothing else to do. Because of this, they simply go online to facebook , where they can virtually socialize, as if they were actually with friends. For many people, it can be used as a place to cure boredom. The second reason I feel that many people are addicted to facebook is because of procrastinating issues. I can relate to this because I used to have these problems. When, people procrastinate, they go to facebook and socialize. I always see a status that says "School is so hard, " or "I'm going to fail the quiz tomorrow." Instead of choosing to fail a test, get off of facebook and study!

Facebook have a huge potential of damaging a person's school career. That is why I feel you should stay away from facebook as much as possible. Make sure facebook is not a huge aspect of your life or you will face the consequences. If you are having procrastination problems, it is better to delete your account than to procrastinate and watch your grade steadily decrease. Do not become addicted to facebook.

In-class Essay: Final Draft

Many people face problems regarding pride and arrogance throughout the course of their lives. Q, a character in the short stories "The Aquatic Uncle" and "The Dinosaurs" by Italio Calvino faces these problems in his life. His pride and arrogance brought about extreme life changes, that could be considered positive or negative. Q's life has been dramatically changed throughout the coarse of his life because of his prideful and arrogant characteristics.

Throughout his life, Q has evolved and changed into various organisms. In "The Aquatic Uncle," Q portrayed one of the first vertebrate species. Q faced difficulties centered around his life, many of which involved prejudices. "This business about warts was a widespread prejudice among the old fish: a notion that from living on dry land, we would develop warts all over our bodies, excluding liquid matter....."(Calvino 72). Q faced much prejudice from his uncle in particular; he had evolved and never felt the need to go back to the water. He felt that it was necessary to evolve and was proud of who he was, no matter how many prejudices he faced. The problem was, his fiance, Lll, became enthralled with the idea of living in the water, having been indoctrinated by Q's uncle. Out of pride for himself and arrogance in his belief that living on dry land was a better life than in water, he refused to go live in the water with Lll. "And yet I wouldn't have traded places with any of them, "(Calvino 82). Lll consequently left Q. Although Q lost the one he loved, he felt it was a necessary sacrifice that was needed in order for positive progress and evolution in his future life. Because of Q's pride in himself, he lost the one he loved in order to follow what he believed in, which was to evolve and progress in life.

Throughout the coarse of his life, Q evolved, as well as the others around him. In "The Dinosaurs," Q had evolved into a dinosaur, while others around him evolved past him to become New Ones. Eventually, dinosaurs were all but myths to the New Ones; In these myths, the New Ones portrayed the dinosaurs as being monsters. This was a true fact, but Q could not accept that. "Sometimes I couldn't help but saying: 'Come, let's not exaggerate. What do you think a dinosaur was, after all?"(Calvino 103). Again, Q felt pride and arrogance for who he was, which blinded him from the truth. He could not accept the fact that dinosaurs were monsters, although he knew the truth mentally. Because he wasn't accepting of the truth, he realized he couldn't exist around the New Ones. "I had to escape as fast as possible, let them stew in their own juice, have nothing more to do with these old stories,"(Calvino 106). Eventually, Q left the New Ones. He new that he would never be able accept them because he could only accept himself. Q's prideful and arrogant personality was the cause of this change. He felt too much pride for himself and his species. Q knew he had to continue life elsewhere because his pride and arrogance for himself.

In both short stories, Q was forced by his mentality towards others to move on in life and adapt. This was because of his pride and arrogance that he felt for himself. "I traveled through valleys and plains. I came to a station, caught the first train, and was lost in the crowd,"(Calvino 112). Because of Q's prideful mentality, he knew he could not coexist with others. That is why he felt the need to continuously migrate and move from place to place. He could never accept others because he could only accept himself. Because of this, Q's life had faced many dramatic changes such as loosing the ones he loved and the ability to socialize because of his ongoing migration. Q's strong characteristics of pride and arrogance cause Q's life to continuously change because he could only accept himself.