Reflection

Creating an autobiographical web collage was a rewarding experience because it helped me to learn more about myself. Some parts of the project such as creating the web pages and writing the blog analysis were quite enjoyable and posed little difficulty. Other aspects, including writing a resume and coming up with a topic for my remembered event essay, required a great deal of time and effort. Although it was one of the largest writing assignments that I have had in a long time, the large assignment became manageable by breaking it down into smaller tasks.

In preparation for writing about my writing process, I took an abbreviated version of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test. It showed that I have an ISTJ (Introvert, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) personality. I like how we were instructed to write the essay in small pieces before putting them all together. Dividing the writing into small tasks made the writing process less intimidating. Putting the writing process essay together helped me learn about how my personality affects my writing.

I had a tough time choosing a topic for my remembered event essay. At first I was thinking about events that happened quite a while ago. None of them seemed to be ideal because I couldn't remember the details very clearly. I was very glad when I got the idea to write about my recent trip overseas. I chose my visit to West Africa as my topic because I could remember the details well and it has influenced the way I think. That trip increased my awareness of just how blessed I am.

I am an avid reader of blogs, so I enjoyed writing my blog analysis. I chose to talk about posts from the World Magazine Blog and the Rebelution Blog. As one who has struggled with time management, I enjoyed reading the Rebelution Blog posts on that subject. I grew up hearing that debt was a bad thing and when the World Magazine posted about the new restrictions on people who file bankruptcy it reinforced my resolve to avoid debt.

I didn't find it hard to choose which blog posts to discuss in my blog analysis. I chose posts from authors that I have enjoyed learning from even before I started reading their blogs. Somewhat surprisingly, I didn't find out about either of the blogs through the Internet. My family receives World Magazine each week at our house. We like reading it so much that we usually try to be the first person to claim it when it arrives in the mail. The Rebelution Blog is written by Alex and Brett Harris. I had the opportunity to meet them when they spoke at a church in Montgomery, Alabama. I like to think that I can get important news from World and insightful views from the Rebelution.

Writing my resume was one of the most intimidating parts of the project. When I first heard that we were going to have to write a resume I didn’t think I would be able to put anything on it since I have never had a regular job. However, I have had many online jobs working on websites and was able to craft a resume from those. For the design of my resume, I started with a resume template from the Career Services part of the LeTourneau University website.

Creating web pages from my writings was the easiest and most enjoyable part of creating a biographical web collage. I have enjoyed creating web pages ever since my thirteenth birthday, when I created my first website. For this project, I adapted a design that I already use on my main website, a simple design with a focus on content.

Throughout all my writings, I tried to present myself as one who has learned many things and is in the process of learning. In my remembered event essay, I wrote about what I had learned through visiting a Third World country. In my writing process essay, I explained that I have learned that writing is well worth the time and effort it requires. In my resume, I listed skills that I had learned through working on websites. During my blog analysis, I showed some of the things that I had learned from other people's writings. I want to not only learn, but also share what I learn with other people. Writing is one of the best was that I can share what I have learned with others.

Although it is hard for me, writing is wonderful because it forces me to express my thoughts, experiences, and ideas in a logical manner. By writing something down, I am better able to understand it now and remember it later. This writing project has forced me to think through things that I hadn't really considered before and for that I am very grateful.