My "Writers Journey"

I went into my senior year of high school with only one thing on my mind: “I have to pass this research paper.” I knew from the start that I had a 15 page paper that needed to be written, and well, in order to graduate on time. This was a requirement for all the seniors at my high school, and it was honestly a daunting task for me. My whole high school career, I was used to just taking up prompts, sitting in front of my computer for an hour or so and then spitting out whatever I could. About 97% of the time, this was an effective method for me, but I knew that this research paper would be a lot different. Looking back on it now, I have realized that when I am passionate about a topic, I can spend more time on a paper and give a better result.

It is not uncommon that passion can drive a person to think deeper about a topic, therefore causing them to invest more time in it that they would with something else. With me, this is so very true. I chose to write my research paper on minority/immigrant families in the United States and what it means to be an “American.” Because I chose three incredible books to read, and because I was interested in what truly makes an American, I ended up doing more extensive research than I imagined. I learned so much about the lives of minorities and immigrants in America, outside of what I thought I already knew from experience, and I was able to draw better points to prove my thesis. Along with that, my interest and research helped me create a better understanding of my topic.

Knowing what I’m talking about because I understand my topic was also essential to my becoming a better writer through this research paper. I learned that if I actually look into what I’m doing, I can not only write more concisely and efficiently, but also with better prose because I don’t have to waste time pretending I know what I’m supposed to be saying. After doing all my research and preparation, I found that I had a much easier time writing on my topic, and I rarely ever had nothing to say. There was an easier flow to my words and I didn’t have to work hard to prove my point, because the facts were all there. Of course, when you like what you’re doing, most times you do it a lot better. As long as I can prepare and make the most of an essay or assignment, I believe that I can write just as well as I did on my research paper.