Allison Aguilar

Mr. Franco

ENG 110

December 1, 2025

Reflection Essay

When I look back on this freshman English course, I can honestly say it helped me grow not just as a writer, but also as a person. I didn’t expect that an English class would make me think so deeply about identity, culture, and language, but that’s exactly what happened. At the start of the semester, I knew how to write simple essays, but I didn’t really understand how to connect my writing to my real experiences or to the experiences of others. This class opened my eyes to how powerful writing can be when you learn to use your voice with confidence. One of the biggest lessons I learned was that writing isn’t about trying to sound perfect, it’s about being honest, thoughtful, and willing to explore ideas that feel personal.

 

Working with different readings throughout the semester helped me understand this more. “Language Difficulties,” which I wrote a while back, was one of the first times I opened up about my fear of speaking Spanish and being judged for it. Before this class, I probably would’ve just written it quickly and moved on or never even have talked about it. But my professor encouraged me to look deeper and really think about why language affected me so much. They taught me how to analyze my own perspective in the same way we analyzed authors like Jamila Lyiscott and Safwat Saleem. That made a huge difference because I finally understood that my experience wasn’t something small, it connected to larger ideas about voice, culture, and belonging that other people could read and create a connection with.

 

The texts we studied were honestly some of the most meaningful ones I’ve read in a long time. Jamila Lyiscott’s “Three Ways to Speak English” helped me see how language can shift depending on who we’re around. Her line about speaking “three tongues” made me realize that a lot of us switch our voices without even noticing it, just to fit in. Reading that made me feel seen and connected knowing someone else was feeling the same way. Safwat Saleem’s talk about being mocked for his accent also hit me hard because it reminded me of how scared I used to be of sounding “wrong.” These authors helped me understand that language is connected to respect, confidence, and even identity. They also showed me that being bilingual or multilingual isn’t something to hide, it’s something to be proud of. This class gave me the space to connect those ideas to my own life, and that made the work feel meaningful instead of just another assignment.

 

One thing I really appreciated was how supportive and patient the professor was. Instead of just grading my papers, they took the time to guide me through the process. They showed us how to brainstorm, draft, revise, and even how to connect different sources together. I used to think revising just meant fixing grammar, but now I understand it’s about developing ideas, adding evidence, and really shaping the message. Every time I turned in a draft, my professors gave detailed feedback that pushed me to think more critically. Sometimes they pointed out where my explanations needed more depth or where my quotes needed to be unpacked. At first, it felt like a lot, but over time I realized I was actually getting better because of that feedback.

 

The synthesis essay we worked on was a big turning point for me. It wasn’t easy to connect multiple sources and still tie everything back to my own experience, but the step-by-step guidance helped a lot. I learned how to read academically, how to find connections between texts, and how to explain those connections clearly. Adding different articles, like the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) piece about supporting home languages, made me realize how all the readings connected to a bigger conversation about identity and culture. It felt like everything clicked when I understood how each source supported or extended the ideas in “Language Difficulties.” Before this class, I never imagined I’d be able to write a long paper that blended personal reflection with academic research, but now I feel confident doing that.

 

Another important skill I developed in this course was learning how to work with different genres. We read poems, speeches, personal narratives, academic articles, and research-based texts. Each one taught me something different about how writers communicate. This helped me understand how to shift my own writing depending on the purpose. I learned how to explain quotes in a way that actually made sense and how to break down ideas so the reader could follow my thinking. I also learned how to use digital tools and resources to support my writing and research. Before, I didn’t pay much attention to credibility or bias, but now I know how important it is to choose sources that are trustworthy and relevant.

 

Something I wasn’t expecting was how this class helped me connect more with my background. Writing about language and culture made me reflect on my own family and how our languages shape who we are. It made me proud of my bilingualism instead of insecure about it. It also made me realize that language loss is something that affects many people, especially immigrant families. Learning this helped me appreciate the idea that holding onto your home language can be a source of strength, not something that holds you back.

 

Overall, this English course was one of the most informative and supportive classes I’ve taken so far in college. The professor didn’t just teach writing, they taught confidence, identity, and critical thinking. They were always willing to help, explain things, and guide me through each assignment. Because of their support, I feel like I’ve become a stronger writer and a more thoughtful student. I’m leaving this class with skills I know I’ll use in future semesters, and with a better understanding of my own voice.