Take A Look into My Experiences from First Semester Composition

After choosing Washington & Jefferson College as the place to continue my education, I knew I was looking forward to a difficult four years. It is a demanding liberal arts college, with many general education classes that must be completed. Composition, one of the required courses as a freshman, always interested me throughout my years in high school. I found writing as a way to espress many of my emotions that I was unable to say aloud. This composition class, though, has been the polar opposite of my previous courses. The entire semester was based on one broad topic: Nature and the Environment. At first, this seems as though it would only be of interest to those who enjoy the outdoors and what it has to offer, but this is most assuredly false. We read several essays by astounding authors, whom which have had captivating experiences in nature. Personally, I have never been a true nature advocate, but the experiences I have read about have changed my perspective on nature and the environment entirely. The pure beauty and admiration that many of these authors portray towards their subjects is simply remarkable. I never before realized the serenity and enjoyment that can be found when one becomes one with nature. My favorite pieces we read came from John Muir and Edward Abbey, who seemed to be two of the more subjective writers. They both provided personal experiences that many people wouldn't dare to even think of. John Muir was at the top of a tree during a wind storm and Edward Abbey viewed two snakes dancing from nearly inches away. These two stories allowed me to open my mind to many of the miraculous qualities that our surrounding environments have to offer. Not all of the essays were uplifting, though. The final two essays we read dealt with very negative views on humans destruction of the environment. Overall, our semester was filled with the many different views on nature and what it possesses.

Previous to this course, I never thought about how devastating humans are for the environment. The blatant ignorance of many individuals is truly disheartening. This ignorance is not always direct, though. Without proper knowledge, which I have only gained because of this course, one does not realize the results of his/her actions. I belive this course was given to me at a perfect time, being that our country is going through a severe environmental crisis. Energy consumption and water pollution are two of the most pressing issues today. Two of my posts dealt with these topics, which were two issues I had never researched before this class. After becoming enlightened on these problems, I now realize the consequences of my actions. I found that by providing us with stories and information that we can relate to our own individual lives, the author's succeeded in conveying their arguments. Writing is a very powerful tool that, when used properly, has the ability to affect thousands of lives.

In conclusion, my experiences in this class are something that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my life. I believe that an environment conversation must begin with the knowledge and respect that many well-known authors are able to provide. Without the proper education, one will never be able to respect other's opinions and viewpoints. I firmly believe that my blog contains knowledge that one may need in order to become one more individual in the environmental conservation movement. Not only will my blog provide information on these issues, but it will also be a support system for those who do not feel as though they have a say in this world. I never realized the importance of my words until I had experienced Professor Hess' composition class. With relation to the essays we read, she emphasized the impact that each and every one of us can have on the world. I may not be a widely-known or credited author, but my words may have the possibilty to change someones life, just as the above authors have transformed mine.