(B)logging Off For The Year

As we enter our final week of Junior year, I have to admit that I was wrong. When Mr. Bolos and Mr. O'Connor originally told us that we would be blogging weekly for the entire year, I dreaded the idea. I was uncomfortable with the idea of classmates reading my writing, so you could imagine my angst over the thought of my blog being on the internet for anyone to see. But, as the year progressed and as I grew more confident with my writing abilities, my blogging shifted from a weekly burden to an "activity" to look forward to!

My favorite blog post of this last quarter would have to be "Climbing Out Of Poverty, $2 At A Time." Perhaps what I like most about this post is that it was based off of a connection I made outside of class to a theme we discussed in American Studies. In class, we had debated how easy/hard it is to alter social class, and the example I used in my favorite post is very relevant to that discussion.

Unlike many of my earlier posts from the year, this specific one was connected to some textual evidence that enhanced the post. As I've learned throughout the year, you can have an incredibly well-written post, but without linking it to any text, you are leaving a gaping hole for your readers. Linking to a text not only backs up your claims, but also enhances your arguments and adds a thoughtful and unique spin on your work.

This was also the only post that generated a comment from someone outside of class. Although it didn't say much, I was still so excited that this person had learned something new from my post that they decided to let me know by commenting. This gesture, though small, was exciting and made me feel more confident about my posts and my blog as a whole!

Again, at the beginning of the year, I was skeptical to the idea of blogging. I think this was because in my previous years of high school, I never had any type of ongoing project that gave me so much creative license. Blogging was so new to me, and I didn't know how to approach it; instead of embracing the opportunity, I avoided it. But now, I see it in a whole new light. Throughout the experience, I've not only learned many things about America, but also about myself as a writer and a learner. I think I have successfully discovered my voice and style as a writer, and I am thrilled and thankful for this. My blogging "career" is not over yet!