Blog Assignment # 7 Author's Note 2

I decided on several majors to make my family proud of me at first. It was either something in medical field because all my uncles and aunts from my mom’s side of the family are all doctors or nurses. My dad’s side of the family their all engineers or computer experts. Being stuck in the middle those two options were my only choices. However, being a doctor or computer expert isn’t me. I like to help people and I’m pretty tech savvy, but that’s not me. My real passion lies within a pen and a simple sheet of paper or blank word document. Writing is something that I’ve always been good at. I feel like I can’t escape it. My brain is always coming up with ideas that need to be put on paper right away. It was either be an English major or drop out of college. Dropping out of college is like the biggest sin a south-Asian child can ever make, so the only logical choice was to tell my parents that I want to be major in English. That was the most heart wrenching conversation I have ever had with my parents.

Author's Note -  This assignment was probably the most difficult assignment for me to write because it was just too upsetting and a little disappointing for me to write about. I have a lot of speculation that a lot of my classmates perceive me as the typical South-Asian stereotype who always gets good grades and wants to probably major in something in the medical field. I’m sorry to say, but I am not a stereotype, I’m a person first. However, after getting my words down on the screen, it got easier and easier to write about. This assignment felt really refreshing. It was like a therapy session for to get out all my emotions in one giant essay without fumbling with my words. This is also the first time I wrote something in the person perspective. I’m not too keen with writing something or reading in first person. Urgh, the Twilight series, that series has totally destroyed my ideology of first person point of view. However, this assignment was new and exciting, I enjoyed being challenged and writing this assignment. 

Blog Assignment # 6 Midterm Reflection

After half a semester of this course, I’ve gotten a better understanding of a creative non-fiction class. It’s not all just reading books based on true stories. This course so far has taught me how to think critically about a situation in a piece of literature. I’m not too keen on reading anything non-fiction, I’m more of a fiction reader and writer, however taking this class I’ve definitely improved in my descriptive writing. Before I used to write giving little to no detail at all, now I just can’t stop writing about what’s in my room or a small flower about to bloom.

I’m not too keen on first person point of view either, but I like how this course takes something that is difficult for me to write, and turns into a leisure experience. The memoir essay which was due a week ago was entirely written in first person. I had a great time writing all the different scenarios and dialogue in that essay. This class is easier to deal with assignments than all my other English classes. There aren’t many rules or guidelines we have to follow in this course, which is something I also like about this class. This is the only class that helps me be creative and really cut loose. I’m not restricted into writing something. If something pops into my head during an assignment I should just write it out.

Creative writing is something I was always good at, at least according to my friends and online fans who read my work. However, writing creative non-fiction is something so brand new to me. This course challenged me in a good way and I’ve definitely improved as a writer because of this class.

Blog Assignmet # 5

What’s Inside You, Brother – Touré

“Life is never faster than in the ring, except when you’re reeling from a razzing punch.” – Touré 725

This entire piece is about one’s man struggle with boxing and life. He finds boxing as a place of fulfillment. Where he can be himself and not have others just simply judge him. He feels a sense of belonging when he is boxing. Boxing makes the character in this entire piece worth living. The quote above pretty much summarizes the entire piece. This is what life is; it has its ups and downs and if you’re not ready to face life head on, you’ll get knocked down with ease.

“But you know all that, so you fire through the round in constant, unstoppable motion, lighting the entire universe on glorious, ecstatic, religious-fervor fire with your Ali-ese, and of Black, and of beauty.” – Touré – 728

This is what most people in life feel every day. We all have problems when it comes to racial stereotype. We all are trying to belong somewhere when the major minority doesn’t allow it. For African Americans it is a constant struggle. They’ve gone through some much abuse throughout history that they would do anything to have a place on this Earth. That goes for any other minority that does not involve the rich white man. We all know they’re the ones in charge of this country. The line above shows the reader how Touré is proud of being who he is. A boxer and black.

“No matter what,” Touré said, looking directly at me, “I’ve got to fight, always fight, even in the face of sure defeat, because no can hurt me as badly as I can.” – Touré 731.

These final few words in the short story are an important message to anyone who reads this. It sends out a good message to the readers. You are your own worst enemy. You can either sit by or watch life go by and let your own “whisper” torment or torture you, like Touré’s whisper – His white classmates and friends. Or you can do something about it and take a stand against what you believe in.