i just wrote a Self-Reflection for my writing class ::
This semester has been a stretch for me in a lot of ways, from the course load I took, to the content of the courses, to the work load, to the balance I have had to find in being wife and mom and homemaker and employee and student and human being. I can definitely say that I have grown; some of this growth happened this semester, some happened in the years since I was last in college. I have grown in the area of organization. I have grown in my ability to be open to hearing ideas and theories and opinions and facts and to think critically and convey my thoughts with conviction and respect.
This semester, I have learned a lot in all four of my courses. I have had discussions in my human sexuality class about topics that I would have never thought I would have discussed. I have read a variety of books that stretched my thought and imagination about Creation and provoked/inspired me to come to some more concrete personal conclusions. I made it through twenty chapters and twenty labs that took me through the History of the Systems of Earth. I have read a genre – for this class – that I never thought I would read. I have revisited critical academic writing and have found that I do enjoy it, and it is good to be reminded of and to use the MLA guidelines for scholarly writing.
My strengths are definitely my enjoyment of learning and reading and writing. The areas that were more difficult for me were finding the balance and choosing where I would put my time and effort. Directly related to the critical writing, my strengths are in my thought process, my grasp and use of grammar and language, and my ability to comprehend and correlate in such a way that I can relay my thoughts to others. My weakness has been keeping my voice in complete command of my writing. Quotes are wonderful when used correctly, but when I am writing, I do not want to utilize another to author to write my paper. I have the ability to write my own well-thought out, well-written, scholarly paper, and I am glad to have been stretched in this area.
this reflection was bitter-sweet to write! it doesn't seem like long ago that i was in the first week, looking at the 16 weeks of classes stretched out in front of me. after next week (and my final tests done and projects handed in), i will be so glad to have my evenings back with my family, but i have really enjoyed the reading and writing and learning i have been able to do in my classes this semester.
i am really grateful to have been able to do this work this semester. our little family is in a situation where this could work for us, and my husband has been the most wonderful, helpful, accomodating, steady encourager throughout all of this! maddie and isaac have been great, too! they are both very ready for me to have time to read christmas stories and go sledding with them again, though! and i am more than ready for that, too! i am truly so very blessed.