Course Reflection 12/1/2009

Course Reflection

English 111 was the far most tedious class I have taken thus far. I mean that in the nicest way. Thankfully, Mr. Gasparo was a well put together teacher and made it less painful. I don’t enjoy English much. The writing, the reading and the rules and regulations don’t interest me . Unfortunately, English 111 and 112 are classes you need to take in order to graduate. So, just like a math class in my case, I fudged through it and I am staring at the finish line now.
Coming into this class going back to school after a long ten year break, I was not prepared to be given so much work, and so many papers off the bat. I personally found it to be very time consuming; but in return, I definitely have improved my writing skills. I think for me personally this class was a little much for me because of my schedule. I took three classes this semester and I am working fulltime, I think maybe two classes would have been enough and I know better for next semester. I didn’t plan my schedule too strategically.
My favorite projects were the blog projects. I like social networking and doing the blog work and the essays for the blog work didn’t feel too much like actual homework. The writing assignments for these tasks were easy assignments and almost fun to write and I say almost gravely.
My least favorite assignment was the argument essay and presentation. I think had a chose a different topic for my argument essay this project would have been a little easier, but with the topic I had chosen, I couldn’t find enough information to make it work really well. I did it to the best of my ability though. As far as the presentation, I just haven’t used PowerPoint in about 10 years, so I felt a little rusty at it.
I will say though that after taking English 111 with Mr. Gasparo I feel prepared to take on other college classes as they come my way. I am happy I took Mr. Gasparo’s class. He was a tough teacher, but fair and thorough. It wasn’t a boring class where we would sit there and read from a text book. He, along with my classmates, made class fun and enjoyable. I liked how we watching movies and different YouTube videos in class.
I would suggest taking Mr. Gasparo’s English 111 class. It’s a nice wake up call for college and after this class; writing papers will be a piece of cake for you. Mr. Gasparo is young, but he’s thorough and seems like he has been teaching for years. Its refreshing to be in a class and be taught by someone of your own age because you can relate well.

Diagnostic Essay Revised - 12/1/09

The Beach House
Vacation. Just that word will get me excited. I love going away. The thought of just being away from the world and your normal everyday life is so exciting. I can’t say there is one vacation in particular that was my “favorite” growing up. Growing up in New Jersey, our family always had a special place we would go for vacation. It was a place where all troubles and daily routines were put aside and left behind at home. That place was our family beach house in Lavalette, NJ.
It was a simple place. It was a small bungalow built in the 1950s and my grandparents, my father’s parents, bought it as a place to bring the whole family together to spend some time and to have a place where the worries and stresses of home were left there. The summer breeze would come through the house and you would constantly smell the ocean and feel the moist damp air on the sheets while you slept. It was perfect.
As far back as I could remember I can see myself sitting there with my family hearing the waves and smelling the ocean. Typical days would consist of a good eight hour day at the beach. We would swim in the cool ocean until we were water logged and so salty. Collecting seashells would be another favorite past time, always looking to find the biggest, best one to go home later and paint them all the colors of the rainbow. Reading on the beach was so relaxing. I would get lost in my books but would always be aware of the summer breeze rustling my pages and the smell of the ocean air.
The nights were most memorable. I can hear the boardwalk from afar. The sound of the carousel and the peoples screams from the rides. I smell the boardwalk food consisting of pizza, hotdogs and cotton candy. Walking through the boardwalk and playing each game stand hoping to take home the biggest stuffed animal or the new “hip” toy of that year, would be a highlight of the night. We would go out to dinner and enjoy the best seafood I have ever eaten. I can taste the mouth watering lobster melting in my mouth. We would play miniature golf in hopes you would be the winner of the family so you had bragging rights for the night.
My sister and I would take long walks on the beach in the evening. We would be all beached out still in our salty, damp bathing suits and sunburned from beaching it all day. I could feel that same summer breeze and smell that salty air. I hear the seagulls up above and see the clearing of the beaches, maybe only a few scattered families left. My sister and I would embark on conversations about life. We would talk about our futures and promised each other when we grew up and have families of our own we would still take trips to the beach house to relive our youth and have our families a part of what made our childhood so special.
I take that oath with me. Although I am older now and married and have a family of my own, I made it a point to introduce the beach house, such a wonderful place to my new family. I don’t get to go as much, but those memories are with me everyday. I hear them, I see them and I smell them. Writing this actually makes me nostalgic for those days, but I am happy to have them close to my heart.

Diagnostic Essay - 8/27/2009

I can’t say there is one vacation in particular that was my “favorite”. Growing up in New Jersey, our family always had a special place we would go to for vacation. It was a place where all troubles and the daily routines of life were left at home. That place was our family beach house in Lavalette, NJ.
It’s a simple place, a small bungalow a few feet from the beach on a private street. There’s no real glam to it. It’s not a fancy vacation in the islands or a non-stop trip such as Disney World, but it was our place. To me, it was the most fantastic place in the world. Whether I was 7 or 23, I would look forward to driving “down the shore”. As far back as I can remember; I see myself sitting on the beach with my family, hearing the waves and smelling the ocean. Days would consist of a good 8 hour day at the beach playing volleyball, collecting seashells, reading and boogie boarding. Cool summer nights of going to the boardwalk, out to dinner, miniature golfing or just sitting up at the beach playing wiffle ball. It was a simple vacation, and it was stress free.
The beach house was built in the 1950’s and my grandparents, my father’s parents, bought it as a place to bring the whole family together to spend some time. To have a place where the worries and stresses of home were left at home and where we could enjoy some relaxing, ocean air. We would all take a different week at the beach house, alternating between my father’s brothers and sisters and their families. I always remember looking forward to our weeks with my immediate family.
Now being in Virginia Beach and looking back on those time, it was by far the best vacations I ever had. Being together with my family at a place that had so many memories, good times and carefree days is something I wish I could do every summer. It’s something I wish I could carry on the tradition with my family and bring them there and share all the memories and happiness with them, the same my father did for me.
The beach house is still in our family, my father and his wife go all the time, but it’s not the same anymore. But under the surface of it all, it still holds the same memories and good times that my grandparents have worked so hard to make for everyone.

Photo can be found here.