Our third major project for this class was titled, "Why I Write." What a loaded name, am I right? The "Why I Write" assignment prompt was essentially to come up with an evidence-based reflective argument, one in which would be the first thing for our audience to see in our ePortfolios. When I learned that this project used to be the very first piece done in this class, I thought how?? Here I am at the end of the course and what feels like one million years of writing, still struggling to put into words one reason under the title of "why" I write. I write for myself right? Or maybe my mom? Definitely my dog. I'd like to say that I'm the Queen of procrastination most of the time, so take a whack at when I wrote my first Rough Cut for this? About 3 hours before it was due, that's right! I sat down at my desk in my bedroom in my white cheetah print robe and my hair in quite the messy bun, and I did what I love to do...I wrote. I had no idea where I was going with the argument, or if I even had a legitimate argument, but I treated it as I treat any journey. I let it play out and allowed my flying fingers to type faster than I even knew how to think, and by page 4, I had it figured out. 

 

I guess it all started with one of my most beloved memories of elementary school, writing this "book" about a Christmas candle (it was very weird, I can assure you that, like what even is a Christmas candle?) in third grade. I'm not sure how that was the first thing that came to mind, but I went with it. I focused on the confidence I felt and still do feel when writing because it's something I know I'm good at. I talked about all of my fondest and impactful memories of writing experiences and assignments throughout my career as a student, including my favorite high school class, (H) Philosophy. My favorite teacher of all time taught it and she really encouraged me to pop out of my typically tightly closed shell. It was an eye opening experience for me. Bringing it then to the future with this class and my now 19 year old writer self, I came to my conclusion. But that's something you'll have to read about to find out. 

 

This final project and what I might consider the most near and dear project for this Gateway course required a lot more reflection than I had ultimately anticipated. But, like any curious human, I worked through it and eventually reached my answer. I made a few tweaks between Draft 1 and my Final Product, which I was very pleased with. Read here to see the first draft and here to read the final product, "Hello...It's Me."