Graf 21

It has been very interesting writing the grafs and essays assigned.  When I took English in high school, one of the BIG NO-NOS was writing anything personal or in the first person.  My English teacher, Mr. Arnold cautioned against writing personal because when you write about things important to you and you get a grade not to your liking, you take it personally.  For example, I was a new member of the Mormon church and in my fervor, I thought writing a paper on the Church would convert the world.  Or at least Mr. Arnold.  I was devastated to get a "C".  But then, I understood what he meant.  So I was very leary of writing things that might be near and dear or might make me vulnerable.  But in a way, it was very carthartic.  I was able to exercise some guilt over the way I treated my grandfather, and some ambivalence towards my mother.  I enjoyed doing the writings using music lyrics as the essays using the Beatles and Cowsills, to name a few.  I often think in lyrics when reminded of something and it was fun to set those thoughts to words.  And the positive comments not too bad either.  I had an English professor at BYU who told my cousin he thought I had some promise in writing.  I don't know, but I do know this class has rekindled a desire to try.  I took a creative writing class through Adult Ed, and one of the things she told us was that we need to set aside time to write everyday, and foremost, to just write.  This class has inspired me to do just that.