Alexis Montague

UWRT 1101
Ingram
10/29/14
The Writer Within Me
10/24/14
Dear Journal,
I havent written in a while so this is refreshing. I love the smell of a new page in my
journal. I also love the scent of my black ink dispersing on my paper giving my words life. Today
in class Ms. Ingram told us to write a Portrait essay. I have never heard of a portrait essay so it
was intriguing to listen to the conversations around me to find out more information about it.
Im guessing that the portrait essay is basically designed to show who you are as a writer in
essay format.
Who am I as a writer? I have no structure and I love conversational pieces that contain
personal experiences. But Im not exactly sure on how to fully define myself. I never thought I
would be sitting in my room looking out of my window thinking about how I write? I walk to my
journal unlock the tiny lock with my journal key and write with my favorite black ink pen. Thats
the beginning of every journal entry I have ever made! I always write in my journal in the
afternoon or right before bed because thats the best time for me to get everything off of my
chest that I have went through or experienced during the day. Writing in my journal helps me
relieve stress so that I can go on happy and energized. I dont expect to gain any knowledge
from writing in my journal. I guess as Im writing now Im learning about myself and how I think

as a writer. I just flow. Whatever is on my mind I just let it all out. Theres no goal that I set. Its
just word after word after word. How am I supposed to write this essay?
A portrait, I made a portrait of myself back in the second grade of myself and won 1 st
place. But is that what Ms. Ingram is asking for?
Today I was rushing to get to class because I had to walk all the way from the Flats to
McEniry. It was a 15 min walk and I was so hot by the time I got to class. The weather here in
Charlotte is always changing, it started at 46 degrees and went all the way up to 81 degrees!
How is that even logical? I never know what to wear to class anymore. But as the day went on it
got cooler eventually. I went to crown today our school cafeteria and the food was actually
pretty good. Im sitting in my room now watching cartoon network trying to write my portrait
essay but I keep thinking about how I want to go to Chipotle.
I just got back from Chipotle and I ordered a chicken bowl with sour cream, cheese,
lettuce, hot sauce, pico, rice with cilantro and my favorite table spoon of tabsco sauce! It was
so good! I just enjoy Chipotle so much!
Well now Im sitting in the library still thinking about my Chipotle which has nothing to
do with my portrait essay. It is currently 12:16 am and I am listening to Wu-Tang by Drake
trying to focus on writing my essay. Its not going so well. It is hard for me to connect my
thoughts I always end up becoming unfocused. I guess this is why I love writing in my journal
because its just a safe place where I can get down my thoughts. I have three papers due
tomorrow and my Portrait essay is only one of them. I need to stop procrastinating so that I can
catch up on sleep and not have to stay up so late. It is so hard not to wait to the last minute

sometimes. At least Im always on time with turning in my work so I guess its not so bad. I also
havent missed any classes yet. The other day I was talking to some friends on my hall and they
were telling me how they miss two classes a week. I couldnt do that even if I wanted to
because I would feel guilty.
Now its 1:04 am and Im still sitting in the library listening to No Type by Rae
Sremmurd. I am sitting with 3 of my friends now 3 of them left. The library is getting empty by
the minute. Im pretty sure if I dropped a paper clip the people on the ground floor could hear it
and Im on the 3rd floor. I cant even focus. I started off trying to brain storm about this portrait
essay now Im just thinking about the next song that is going to show up on my Pandora. Then I
started thinking about how to define what the assignment is asking. Im still not sure how to
answer all of the portrait questions but Im trying to the best of my ability. Who knew that I
would be up this late doing a paper for my UWRT class? Back in high school I could write a
paper in like 30 minutes and be done. Now I have to stay up and actually apply myself. In high
school Im pretty sure that I didnt have a voice in my writing as far as academics but my journal
was always my safe heaven. I remember when I wrote my essay about my first day of high
school I put forth no effort what so ever and the teacher gave us so many guidelines that the
paper was basically a reflection of how she wanted my first day of high school to go.
I write in my journal because it helps me relieve all the stress from my long hard day at
school. Its my escape sometimes from the outside world because I can talk about whatever is
bothering me or on my mind. I appreciate having that as a way to express myself. I also
appreciate how writers produce pieces that can have impact on other writers. I just appreciate
knowing that other writers can show how they connect to other people. Now that I am in

college I am more expressive in my writing and I also see that I have grown from not speaking
my mind to expressing myself. My goals when I write have become relieving stress and letting
my thoughts fall out onto my paper.
Well its getting late and I keep getting distracted so I will be back journal. I dont know
what I would do without you journal! Wish me luck on my portrait essay!
Alexis Montague