Alyssa Locascio

Frederick Douglas couldn’t be any more right when he says “If there is no struggle, there is no progress”. This is something I have realized and come to accept this semester. In my ePortfolio, you can explore my journey as a writer which includes my many struggles, overcoming them one at a time, and learning how to use these experiences to become a better writer. I learned that it is okay to make mistakes and struggle with my writing. I learned how I can take these mistakes and struggles and learn from them. This is just the beginning of this journey.

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Perfectionism-my best friend and worse enemy all wrapped up in one. Quite easily I can get frustrated as I wonder why I can’t just complete my writing perfect the first time. Sometimes I give up on my writing and stop giving my all because I get upset if I am unable to get all my ideas in my head down on paper. My writing process has therefore changed drastically this semester. In fact, I actually had no writing process at all at the beginning of this semester. I used to begin writing, get frustrated, crumple up the paper, and give up when facing an obstacle in my writing process. Then, I would wait until the last minute to pull together a paper without putting my all into it. I had no personal connection to my papers.  

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After trying many different strategies, I was able to find a strategy that worked best for me. First of all, I figured out that splitting a paper up into different smaller sections to work on throughout time is a lot less stressful and more productive than procrastinating. Waiting until the last minute not only makes writing a paper more stressful and less productive, but it also created a huge disconnect between myself and the content of my paper. There is no room for creativity or to make a personal connection to your writing when I waited until the last minute.

  

Also, I learned it is okay to ask for help if you are struggling with a writing assignment and that it can be beneficial to ask for others’ opinions on your writing. I found that doing both drastically improves my writing and helps me successfully fulfill my purpose in writing papers. Although I am shy and have never been one to feel comfortable asking for assistance or advice, I realized that coming out of my comfort zone is worth it and that nothing negative can come out of these interactions. What helped me realize this was completing peer reviews with my class. Both sides, reviewing other papers and receiving others reviews of my own paper, have helped me grow as a writer and taught me so much.

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Honestly I was a bit scared at first as the process of peer review put me in sort of a vulnerable position where I felt a bit overwhelmed and intimidated, but I was so happy with the outcome. Working hard and putting my all into giving my feedback to my peers, listening to my peers feedback, and applying what I have gathered from doing so has been well worth it. I will definitely take full advantage of this opportunity of peer review in the future. I now share my papers with my peers and teachers more often and ask for their feedback more often in order to make my writing process more productive and fluid.  

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In addition to learning more from the ‘Peer Review’ tab in my ePortfolio about my experience with the peer review progress this semester, you can also learn more about myself and my background in the ‘About me’ tab, learn more about my creating and revising process in the ‘Composing and Revision Process’ tab, and be able to check out some examples of my writing this semester in the ‘Wildcards’ tab. Please feel free to visit the ‘Welcome’ tab in my ePortfolio in order to have a better understanding of what to expect before jumping into other tabs. 

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In all, I cannot wait to see where this journey takes me next as I continue to recognize, overcome, and learn from my mistakes and struggles with my writing. I also cannot wait to learn more and become a better writer consistently by incorporating what I have learned this semester into my personal, educational, and professional life.