Before coming into this course, my understanding of writing was that it was about following rules-first about grammar, then about spelling, following structure, and so on. There was no way I thought I could write to analyze my life or background. The very idea of writing being personal or introspective had never really crossed my mind. Now, after going through the toil of several essays, with classmates and instructors, plus the multiple revisions, my outlook on writing is changed: Writing is neither something for grading nor merely something that fulfills the agenda of an assignment—it is a vehicle to learn about myself, those around me, and the culture from which I come. In this essay, I will be working on a reflection of my transformation as a writer and thinker during this course.

Culture is not just a matter of grandeur or exquisite sights; there must be something more to it. I once believed culture was something sacred, sanctioned, and for example, paintings in a museum or serious holidays with deep historic meaning. But after reading Raymond Williams’ “Culture is Ordinary,” I began to change my way of thinking. Culture does not simply mean what is seen on TV or in school. There are aspects to culture which are probably not even in a dictionary: the food we eat, the way we talk, what good music is, and how we roll in the sand of time with family and friends. That reading really made me think about my own life. I started writing about making tamales with my grandma in my “Culture is Ordinary” essay. At the time, I did not really view that as culture. It just seemed like something we did every year. But when I began pondering the question, I realized just how meaningful this tradition really is. We would listen to music, laugh, walk a zigzag path bilingual in English and Spanish, and share stories while preparing food. That is culture. It is ordinary, yet it is important. Writing about something from my life helped me connect with something larger, which made me proud. Now I realize that those things we do every day mean a lot, and writing helped me come to that realization.

Another thing I now feel I improved on was the writing process and especially conversing with others and making revisions to my work. I disliked peer review sessions and interviews in the beginning-the way I thought, you write by yourself. But I learned talking to others allows for better writing. For the Peer Cultural Op-Ed, I interviewed a sophomore from Bangladesh in our class. He told me about his culture and how the government tried to wipe out his people’s language. I was so moved by his story: I realized that language was more than just a method of communicating-it was identity and pride. That conversation helped form my op-ed about keeping your culture alive, even when another tries to wipe it out. I went through revisions based on suggestions by my mates and teacher for that essay, strengthening my points and adding detail on why the story mattered. I contemplated my word choices and found ways to create a bond between my writing and the reader. It taught me that writing is not about rushing to get things done; it is about taking breaks to think and listen, then reworking. I matured so much in learning how to form that.”

One of my favorite assignments was the Subculture Essay. I chose boxing because I had always been interested in it. But I did not want to just write about the sport. I wanted to find out how boxing is perceived by the actual people who practice it, hence my visit to Morris Park Boxing Club to take some fieldnotes. I observed the training of individuals, talked with a few of them, and absorbed the atmosphere of the gym. I realized that boxing was not only about punches. It was about instilling discipline, maintaining focus, and building confidence. Most of them came from a hard background, and boxing was just a cause to believe in. I also had a separate batch of secondary research comprising articles about boxing as an alternative method to cope with trauma and stress. By combining all these sources, I wrote an essay asserting that boxing offers a platform where people, especially women and those from hard neighborhoods, can feel strong and secure. Writing the paper taught me how personal stories and research can merge to reveal a bigger truth. I was proud of myself because I was not just writing about boxing; I was writing about what it means to fight for yourself and feel empowered with others in hard situations.

The last thing, and probably the most important, is that I learned to trust my own voice. Earlier on in the semester, I felt like my writing just didn’t count. I didn’t think I had anything important to contribute. But then, through all those drafts, reflections, and conversations, I began to see that my voice does count. I don’t have to sound like a textbook or pepper my writing with big words to get a point across. I just have to be sincere and clear. The field notes I wrote at the boxing gym helped make this clear. I wrote about the sounds of the gym, the smells of sweat, the feel of pushing through pain, and it was exactly this kind of description that made me feel more connected to my subject. I stopped trying to sound “correct” and started writing from the heart. And people noticed. I got some really great feedback from both my classmates and teacher that really boosted my confidence. I write with care and with freedom today because I believe my words do count, and I am not afraid to use them.

In conclusion, I walked away having gained a lot more from this class than I ever expected. Through it, I came to understand that culture is not confined to books but goes into my house, my language, my daily life. I learned how to use writing to reflect on my experiences and find ways to relate to those of others. In the process, I read and researched, revised with others, and dialogued with people from different backgrounds. Also, I learned to blend literal observation with deeper reflection. But most importantly, I learned how to trust my voice; I see myself writing as a means to connect, think, and grow. This class helped me to see stories behind daily life; now I know how to tell mine.