Journal Reflection:  First Thoughts Activity

The First Thoughts Activity is a writing exercise that focused on improving the quality of the writing by taking importance away from simple things that may block any writer such as syntax's, spelling and subject matter. To ensure these aspects wouldn’t get in the way six rules were applied. These rules while in theory seem simple in practice are a bit more difficult than expected. These rules are: “keep your hand moving, don’t cross out, don’t worry about spelling, punctuation or grammar, lose control, don’t think, don’t get logical and go for the jugular”. (Goldberg 15-16). This writing exercise originated from Natalie Goldberg and was brought to my literature class by my professor Cynthia Pittmann. It lasted a period of eight weeks in which we would set aside ten minutes for “free writing”. By following the rules the outcome of any writing would be pure in a sense. It would hold my deepest thoughts, any and every situations, obstacle or problem I would be facing at the moment thus bringing up some resistance to the project. I was first introduced to this project last semester I the first part of this course. At the moment I felt that it wasn’t a right fit for me. I consider myself a private person and using a journal in which I had to unload all my fears, problems and insecurities in was difficult. With the passing of time I came to see the journal as a relief. It was more than an assignment. I had really opened up to the idea of using writing as a method to unwind and solve my problems. I understood how simple matters became once I let then pen flow and “went for the jugular”.

In conclusion the whole exercise allowed me to deal with many situations that arose throughout the year. My writing improved as the time passed, I felt as if the way that I wrote didn’t matter and what I wrote was the only thing that was important. In the beginning it was difficult to let my writing flow because I was paying attention to the rules but the more I wrote the more I got familiarized with the rules and since I knew what to do I just let the ink flow.

Short Story as a reaction to "The Use Of Force" by William Carlos Williams

Humiliated

When I was in the 5^th grade I was humiliated by my English teacher. When I was in the 5^th grade I was humiliated by my English teacher. She was a horrible human being. This was years ago yet I still remember the incident vividly. All I learned from this experience was that you can’t trust everyone. Even people whose profession is helping, building and educating can be nasty and cruel. The incident itself is very simple, a student humiliated by the teacher in front of the whole class. It’s something that you would see in a movie. 

I had to give an oral report. I remember how nervous I felt standing up in front of the whole class with my cart board and index cards. As soon as I started she criticized my posture and uniform making a snide comment about my shirt being wrinkled. She proceeded to interrupt my every statement. Since I was nervous I started reading from the cards I had prepared. The teacher started to say that I couldn’t read, that I had to give the presentation in a complete oral matter. I still remember looking at my classmates with humiliation in my face and anguish in my heart. After I was finished with this horrible presentation she got up and said to the class that we should really prepare for our presentations not come to make it up as we go or to improvise. The experience was so bad as soon as I got home I told my mother. The matter was discussed with the principle and yet her attitude towards me the rest of the year was horrible.

I do not understand what she gained from this abrupt show of “power”. I think of it now and it really shocks me like she was so insecure and minuscule that she had to humiliate a 12 year old just to feel in control or as if she has any real power or authority over me. It’s sad really when you think of it. What I take from this situation is that if you don’t love your profession and can’t exert it with love and decency then don’t do it at all, quit and find some job you love. 

                                                                          The End.

"The Use Of Force" by William Carlos Williams

Introduction

My name is Michael García Mercado I’m 18 years old. I’m currently coursing my first year of college in the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus. I am majoring in Natural Sciences and plan to someday study medicine. I’m enrolled in the Literature of the Human Condition course as a part of the English Department and requirements of my curriculum. This blog will showcase many of my work from the class.  I believe writing is an escape. For me is a way to showcase ones creativity and imagination. Each and every one of us has stories inside and we must tell them. Some choose song, or poetry and others the written word. I believe through a series of essays, short stories and compositions I can influence people, change perspectives, give my opinion and just express what I feel. I aspire to learn of literature and the art of writing as much as I can during my years of college life. I’m really passionate about what I feel and the best way to understand those feelings is to write them down. By letting the ink flow and the pen move I allow myself a sense of freedom from any struggle or obstacle I may face. Through the first part of this course I developed better writing habits and skills. Now I must keep writing in order to grow as a writer and person. I aspire to study a second major in literature so that maybe in the future I can also make a career of this passion I have for writing.