When I was commencing my high school career, my instructor made an announcement that we will have to write an essay at the end of the semester. The essay would consist of a book my class and I read and provided would be a series of prompts to choose from, finding certain pieces of evidence from the text, and following the three body paragraph template.
I remember hearing this announcement, and already a mixture of different emotions started to convene in my head and interpolate my mind. From the start, my feelings towards writing have been mixed: I hate writing, yet also enjoy writing my thoughts on a piece of paper. My confidence as a writer was pretty high- mostly because I would receive good grades on essays I would write throughout my middle school career.
Nonetheless, they were new components that must have been implemented when writing an essay: this included two commentaries, one interpolating the evidence and the other tying it back to your paragraph’s thesis all in a five paragraph essay. This format was relatively new to me, but didn’t hinder me from writing an essay I deemed almost perfect … that was until I received the grade.
I received a grade that I wasn’t so proud of and made me rethink my capabilities as a writer: “maybe I am not meant to be a writer” and “how could I let that happen ?” I later went on to discuss my essay with my instructor, and from there showed me ways to improve my writing, how to properly execute the commentaries, and how to flow well within an essay.
Upon nearing the end of the second semester, my instructor announced another final essay, and it follows the same concept as the previous one. Although I was nervous when the announcement was made as I didn’t want to repeat that same thing I did last semester, I stayed persistent and implemented everything I was taught. I wrote and wrote, until I was satisfied with what I had and turnt it in. I waited and waited to see what my final score was and I can’t deny, I was nervous as heck. I mean I was thinking “what if I did terrible ?” or “you suck never write again !” I was already thinking negatively, and I couldn’t stop it, until I came to the conclusion: whatever happens happens. Once the scores were released, I was shocked, yet satisfied. “I did it for once.”
That thought stayed in my head for a while now. I for once was able to improve my craft in writing, and from there I started to write my essays well. Going into my second year of high school, I remember having a conversation about Hip Hop with my English teacher, and we talked about our favorite rappers and why paying attention to their lyrics as they were telling a story. This made me link to my prior experience of poetry, and how they too tell a story in a structured manner.
I would consistently talk to my English teacher about Hip Hop, and at times we would branch out different topics such as poetry and storytelling. After our conversation, my peaks of interest will make me want to do research on my own. I would read many poems from different poets such as Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. On the Hip Hop aspect, I will listen to MF DOOM, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Denzel Curry, and many more rappers and how they can paint a story all while implementing intricate rhyme schemes.
Listening to them influenced me to try to write my own story and incorporate similar factors. Throughout my high school years, I would write raps of my own. At first, they would follow that AABB rhyme scheme and would just write things to write. Upon analyzing their lyrics, and learning about rhyme schemes, I started to comprehend the style of rap. I would have multi-syllable rhymes, intricate rhyme schemes all while conveying a message or thoughts I had. After high school, I stopped writing for a while- mostly because I didn’t dream about being a rapper, and even if I did, that dream was slim. Coming into Emory University, I was introduced to a friend whose name is Caleb Sharkey, and I remember one time we just hung out after lunch and we freestyle for hours and from there, he supported my rapping capabilities. Him and others made me pursue writing not for a purpose, but for fun, something I didn’t realize until after.
Another aspect of writing I found out was a way to explain certain aspects of my life. I was able to express where I come from, how my community was able to shape me to the person I am today, and other aspects. I remember enjoying writing my personal statement, and college essays as it gave me a way to express who I really am rather than basing it off numbers and statistics. Writing helped give me a sense of identity, a sense of hope. I knew whenever I was feeling down, I would turn to writing as a way to express my feelings, or express things I wasn’t able to express.
In the present day, I still incorporate writing into my day to day life. I started to write more raps whenever I have time as a way to pass time. I write two three hundred summaries every week for a class, and although it is tedious, I somewhat enjoy it- it keeps my mind working. Writing has been a passionate hobby that has grown onto me in a matter of years. Writing has allowed me to express myself through essays, emotions, and music. I am happy to say that I am glad to have discovered the wonders of writing through an essay.
