My thoughts on blogging

Keeping a blog for a few months has been very interesting; it has been a great contribution to my development as a writer. You see? A blog is very different from a journal, or an essay. For me, a blog feels like a conversation. I intend them to be as if I was telling someone about something. It has to be personalized, not formal. I’ve enjoyed writing these entries because they are not directed instead they are my opinion. I can truly say that this blog represents me and is completely honest!

Up to date I have about 15 entries, including this one. Doesn’t seem like much at first, but considering I’ve had this blog for only a few months (5 months to be more specific) those are quite a lot entries! I always kept them between 300 to 500 words in order to make them short and precise. If there is one post that I really enjoyed it would be my personal “Who’s the girl?” entry. In this entry I had the chance of expressing who I am. It was kind of my “first impression” kind of entry. It was a chance for readers to get to know the blogger and understand my background, which was going to be the base of my future reflections. For me, that blog post meant that I was exposing myself to the world. I was revealing the things that made me who I am and if you think about it that is pretty darn scary. As a person that is afraid of judgment and feels like she should please everyone, exposing something that I can’t change was scary for me. Being yourself is something you can’t really please people with. Nonetheless, after the post I felt great! I said to myself: “OK. Now that that’s over I can actually be myself and make this blog mine!” It was a nice feeling.

As I mentioned before, a blog seems like a conversation to me. If I compare it to my journal I can definitely see the differences. In a journal, I write for myself. I don’t have to explain myself. Contrary, in a blog I have to make sure the reader understands what I’m trying to say. A journal is not meant for someone to read, a blog is. However, I did notice that for both writing methods I wrote casually. If something sets apart a blog from an essay or a novel is the style of writing and the way it’s meant to be read. A blog is supposed to be read more easily and to be more dynamic, with the format of the text, pictures and fun links.

Which reminds me, now that summer is coming you’re probably thinking about vacation. What’s that? No budget this year? Don’t be that same person next year and try out this 52-week challenge for saving money! I already started mine!

52-Weeks Savings Challenge

Anyways, another fun part of this blog was the comments! I have to admit, having to comment on each post of each of the members of my group was dreary, not because of the content but because it was a lot of work! Nonetheless, if it was constructive advice I was happy to do it. Commenting on each other’s posts gave us support. All of my teammates comments were useful and helped me learn and write better. Their comments showed their respect towards my opinions. It was interesting to see how many of them related to what I said and how my post also helped them personally. The tips on commenting based on Peter Elbow were very beneficial, as they helped me create comments that weren’t general but specific and personal. I believe my colleagues also based their comments using Elbow’s guideline.

After all, it was a hell of an experience. For the longest time I have reminisced on the idea of creating a blog and having this one certainly gave me an idea of the way a blog works. Therefore now I am even surer about the next one! If you were or are thinking about creating one I encourage it to do so. Don’t be afraid! Your entries don’t have to be anything fancy or wowish. Just write about what you know and after a while you’ll get the hang of it. Trust me! If you don’t, you’ll always be left with the thought of what if?  Just try it!

My Experience Working in a Group

Being part of a group was truly a challenging task. Working as a team was crucial to get things done correctly and in time. Even though we had our differences, we still managed to come together as a group and learn form each other. I can definitely say that The Reflexive Ponderers was more than a group assignment. We got along so well and in the end we became good friends that provided support to one another. This project has taught me communication skills and the importance of teamwork. We learned that everyone had to cooperate in order for the group to do well as a whole. Together we could discuss class topics and hear other’s opinion on the subject. This method also taught us that everyone’s opinion is different and that is OK! In general, the group projects were an excellent and it was truly one of the best assignments in the class.

Serving in Silence

Margarethe Cammermeyer was an army nurse who was discharged from her service for being lesbian. She decided to sue the army and earn her rights, which were not supposed to be affected because of her sexual orientation. At first I was surprised by the army’s reaction. They asked her to make a declaration were she stated that she was not a lesbian. In other words they wanted her to lie about her personality; deny who she was. Her sons, on the other hand supported her completely. They were not ashamed of her and they didn’t ask under any circumstances for her to deny who she was. If anything, her statement made them closer to their mom. 

The movie Serving in Silence was an excellent representation of her story. I thought her narrative was inspiring; in terms of being honest and fighting for what you believe in. I most definitely believe she shouldn’t have kept it a secret. I think everyone has the right of expressing their beliefs and being open about who they are. If she ‘d kept it quiet it would’ve meant that she was letting others decide for her. Denying her reality meant letting society control her. She considered her sexual orientation her identity. She didn’t think of it as a temporary interest, but essentially a part of her. That was one of the main reasons why she didn’t deny it and wasn’t willing to take back her statement. I truly admire her for standing up for herself and for deciding on her own path.

Literary Contest: New Moon

Dry mouth,

I could see the pink in his eyes.

“Where is your phone, son?”

“I don’t know ma, I don’t know…” he answered,

But I could see the device in his hands.

I’m standing here on Earth

While he is up in the clouds.

His confusion fills the air

While my tears cover the floor.

I could hear the loud thumping of his heart.

Damn the feel!

“Why you up all on me, ma?”

I immediately brushed my fingers through his hair.

“If you could…”

Glass breaks, blood drips.

It was only small cut.

Aggression.

Paranoia.

I stood up while he stared at the ceiling.

He didn’t know.

My sweet boy didn’t know.

His shadow got bigger by the minute,

It made me smaller.

It’s taking over.

The New Moon is already setting in.

I grab his hand but he has no conscious.

His lost of balance is the only thing keeping him close.

I scream.

I can feel the pressure in my head.

He can’t hear me, he’s almost gone.

He didn’t know.

My sweet boy didn’t know.

As the moon starts to fade,

My dear son fades along with it.

I kneel before him but he’s giving in.

Damn the feel!

One knee, two knees

He’s on my shoulder now.

The loud thump, its gone now.

His dry lips, covered in tears.

New Moon is finally here.

He never knew.

My sweet boy never knew.

My First Time

It was my first time entering a literary contest and when the professor encouraged us to do it I couldn’t have been more excited. At first, I had so much work from other classes that I thought I would submit the previous poem we had given to our professor. But somehow, I thought I could do better. I felt like in the previous poem I held back from what I really wanted my work to be, because I just thought “Oh, its just a silly poem”. But I can honestly say that having the chance to be recognized for something that you don’t usually do (I study biology) actually got me motivated. Therefore I decided to create another poem, and this time I didn’t hold back.

I decided my theme and I even did a little bit of research, as I wanted my poem to be accurate and formal. After writing, it felt like I had given the paper a part of me. It felt like I had turned into a New York Times bestselling author during those few hours. As an insecure person, but also as a writer, I send my work to a friend, which knows how to give me feedback. I was so scared as I felt this poem was almost a part of me and as usual I was scared of what others might think of it. To my surprise, she loved it! She even specified this one verse that she thought gave so much emotion to my poem. What can I say? I was completely confident now.

       

After submitting my poem, the waiting time for it to be reviewed was tense. I was so anxious to know who were the winners! Sadly, I didn’t win nor I was an honorable mention. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the experience. If a literary contest was the catalyst that got me to discover my inner writer, than I’m glad I did it. Somehow, I didn’t feel like I failed; if anything I felt like I succeeded. I’m so glad I got to uncover a part of me that I didn’t know and I feel extremely motivated not to write another poem, but to see what my writing teaches me next!