Reflection on Nature Essay and Memoir

I wrote the memoir with the purpose of reflecting on an important experience. This was the first time I wrote a memoir, so it was nice to learn how. I learned about painting with brush strokes, such as switching adjectives out of order, which really makes your writing more interesting! I wrote the nature essay with the purpose of reflecting on my most memorable experience in nature, and the way it affected me. I learned more about incorporating quotes into my writing, and making connections between the quotes of others and my own personal experiences. Learning about comma errors, switching adjectives out of order, and being subtle have been very beneficial to me, and my writing skills.

I revised several parts of my essays. I decided I wanted to start my nature piece by listing some aspects of nature I find especially great. I thought this would be a good way to grab the reader's attention, and make them want to read on. I added the second purple section to explain how my experiences related to the quote I had used above. I added the last purple section to further explain how these experiences affected me, and what they meant to me. On the memoir, I really focused on vocabulary. The first draft was far too simple, and I felt it came off too juvenile. I worked on using words that spiced up my writing, but actually made sense. I colored some of the words in purple, that I added to spice up my writing.

While reading my peers' blogs, several things really stood out to me. I loved the way Emily Anna started out her essay about Hester. She wrote, "She may seem like an awful person at first, but later on Hester really turns out to be a wonderful person." I was very proud to see this optimism she expressed. It really showed me that if you look for the best in everyone, you're sure to find it. Ben's pieces were stand-outs as well. His vocabulary is astounding, and on a completely different level from my other peers. Some specific words in his writing I found particularly impressive were aroma and ambiance. "Like Goliath, the curtain fell and the stone that hit him was the music played by the band." This excerpt from Ben's essay shows his knack for metaphors. I really enjoyed Molly's piece about becoming a Christian. I have known her since I was a baby, and I am so proud of her and glad for her that she has truly achieved salvation, and can now be confident with her eternal fate. For these reasons, Molly's essays were probably my favorite, because they were able to appeal to me on a personal level.

Many experiences, privileges, and rights come with age. It’s common knowledge that one is legally allowed to apply for a driver’s permit at fifteen years old. Ability to drive supplies the freedom and independence all children desire, so naturally I couldn’t wait until the day I would have this ability! I sat back and enviously looked on as my brother, conceited and cocky, obtained his permit. Knowing I was next, the anticipation grew tremendously. A couple years later, I began high school. One by one, all of my friends got their permits. I’m younger than most people in my grade, so when my birthday finally arrived on the eighth of May, I was ecstatic. I woke up, flew down the stairs, and instantly began peppering my parents with requests to go to the DMV and attempt to get my permit! After ignoring me for a few minutes, they told me that they didn’t feel I was “ready”. Disappointed and confused, I didn’t understand why I wasn’t ready, and I was unsure when I would be. The unfairness of my parents enraged me. Why was my brother considered ready the day he turned fifteen, but I wasn’t? For the next three months, these thoughts were on my mind continuously. I had no idea when I would be able to embark on the journey of driving that filled my every thought. One fateful day, I returned home from eating dinner with a friend, and my dad told me he had something to talk to me about. I was hoping it would be about getting my permit, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up, only to have them crushed again. When he told me that he had decided I was “ready”, I was thrilled! Mouth opening in shock, I could hardly contain my enthusiasm as I ran up to my room to begin studying the driver’s manual. I read and reread the book for several hours. I had how to parallel park and who has right of way engraved in my mind. After waiting for what seemed like a lifetime, failing the test when I was finally allowed to take it would be incredibly upsetting. I awoke early the next morning, and pleaded for my mom to get ready faster so we could go to the DMV. I looked over my book on the way there and waited anxiously as my mom filled out the forms. I went over to the touch-screen monitor and began the test. I carefully read each question and responded to each one after considering all answer choices. I submitted my answers, and my score appeared on the screen…I passed! I was so relieved and so glad I had studied! When I was handed my permit, I felt a great sense of accomplishment. I drive all the time now, and I love it!

Beautiful sunsets, warm sparkling beaches, fresh powdered snow. Nature is a powerful, integral part of our world. It can be therapeutic and inspiring. It can change our perspectives, without us even realizing it. You can only come to truly appreciate nature by exposing yourself to it. Very small aspects of nature can invoke emotions in our souls we never thought possible. The wise Emerson once said, "What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not been discovered." Certain moments spent in nature can be very surreal and moving.

The famous 18th century philosopher, Thoreau once said, "Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." When I was very young, my dad would wake me up very early in the morning, before the sun was up. We would drive out to my grandmother's house, where we kept our fishing boat, and troll through the cool early-morning air, in search of a good spot for fishing. The thrill of catching a fish is unexplainable, but it definitely wasn't the only reason I so enjoyed these early fishing trips. After fishing for a while, I would unwrap the chicken biscuit my grandmother had packed for me, and enjoy my breakfast on the back of the boat. Watching the sunrise above the horizon, and hearing the birds begin to chirp with glee was a very emotional experience for me. While gazing at each of the many beautiful colors in the sky, I would be deep in thought, exploring every aspect of my life, and hypothesizing about what was in store for me as I grew older. My grandmother has moved to a different town, and me and my dad are too busy to go fishing together anymore, but the moments I experienced on our early morning fishing trips, and the feelings invoked in me will never be forgotten.

I do think I was able to have an Emersonian experience. I have been able to become one with nature at many different times in my life. These fishing experiences were simply the most memorable. Nature is a such an important aspect of our world, and doesn't always get the appreciation it deserves.