Bary

“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” – Pablo Picasso

I thought that this cartoon was very enjoyable and extremely relatable.  It focused on how when we were younger we had the freedom to write and draw, but as we get older we no longer have that freedom.  I think that this is so incredibly true.  When I was in elementary school I could draw just about whatever my little, naive mind wanted to draw.  If I were to draw or write something obscene now I would either get in trouble or be wrongly judged.  I think it is unfair and even wrong that we have these not only restrictions but judgements when we write something that is "obscene" to some people.  Like this quote says, many people lose their creativity when they get older because they have so many restrictions on what they can and can't write.  I know for me, these restrictions/judgements make me not so excited and interested in writing.  When you have a set topic you have to write about and so many rules when you're writing it seems to take the fun out of writing. 

Where I'm From

I am from parents
two loving, supportive parents
two fun-loving older sisters
one playful, large golden retriever

I am from a cozy home
from the large oak tree in the yard
I am from the clean,
laundry smelling home

I am from the chaos
from the bonding moments
I am from movie nights
from Sunday family dinners

I am from parents
two caring, compassionate parents
two amazing older sisters
one joyful, loving golden retriever

From Ralph Fletcher, Breathing In Breathing Out: Keeping a Writer's Notebook


"Not many of us are brave or brazen enough to go public and let the world judge our early failed writings.  That's where the notebooks come in.  It gives us a private place to write badly."

My daybook is my safe place to write down my thoughts and I will not be judged.  Like writing, many people are afraid to go out in the world and show their true personality.  I feel safe around my closets friends and family and in my home.  My daybook is my safe place to write.  Nobody will judge me for what I write or how bad my grammar is.  Writing in my daybook is one of my favorite things to do.  I can let all of my thoughts out and they flow so easily.  Writing in my book is very liberating.

Letter to writing group

On one of the first day of classes we had to write a letter to our writing groups that pretty much let them know more about us.  I didn't really know what I should write because my life isn't that interesting. All   I could talk about was what I did in high school and what my hobbies are, boring I know.

We had to write this as a homework assignment and I was excited to reflect on my life before coming to UNC Charlotte.   I had been struggling with the transition into college because it was a huge change in my life and I wasn't used to being this different person per say.  As I was writing I realized that I am who I am and I will never change, no matter the circumstances.  I will always enjoy the same things as I always have and no matter where I am.

In class the next day we got in our writing groups and passed our letter around to each person.  When each person finished reading my letter the left a comment on it.  It was really cool and interesting to go back and read these comments because each person said something different.  It was cool to see how I had so much in common with these people even though we came from different places and different backgrounds.  I thought that it was a great way to get to know and understand each other.

Reflection of "Mapping Childhood Home/Community"

One of the first things that we did in our day book was draw a map of the neighborhood we grew up in.   Once we were finished, we were instructed to write a piece about our memories in that neighborhood.  Most of the time when it's 8 o'clock in the morning my brain is a little slow to process things, but on this morning when I was asked to write this piece I was immediately excited to begin.  I was so excited to write about the neighborhood that I grew up in because I have such great memories of it and had a blast as a kid growing up there.

Once I began writing, my thoughts flowed so easily and I wish I had more time to write because I had so much more to say.  The more and more that I wrote the better of a mood I got in.  Thinking about all of the good times that I had growing up in that neighborhood as a kid just made me so happy.  My creative juices were flowing and I couldn't put the pencil down.


When it was time to stop writing I put my pencil down but my mind didn't stop wondering.  I just couldn't stop thinking about all of the fun times I had.  I wanted to go back to the pool and play sharks and minos for hours at a time just baking in the sun.  I wanted to go to the Kent's house for a giant game of capture the flag once the sun went down.  I wanted to go to PJ's house where we would order pizza and stay up all night.  I wanted to go back to the times when I didn't have a worry in the world.  This piece got me thinking about how great of a childhood I had and how I wouldn't change it for anything.