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Hilary Ochoa

White

AP English Literature & Composition

16 May 2022

Senior Portfolio: Reflection

In order to best represent my growth these past four years, I decided to include a PA from

each year. In my opinion, they were the most difficult assignments. Even though they were the

most frustrating, writing each one of them has taught me so much academically and in the real-

world. I came into University High thinking I was a decent writer because my eighth-grade

teacher Mr. Neville would constantly boast about my writing and how good it was for my age.

Freshman me was deeply disappointed when the first PA was returned. As I was writing it, I

believed Mrs. Spacht would be impressed by my vocabulary and overall writing. I quickly

learned that every sentence I wrote sounded like I “swallowed the thesaurus” and spit it out onto

the page. Mrs. Spacht told me something along those lines in our first PA rewrite meeting and I

am very glad she did. Those words hit hard then because I was not used to my work being

criticized. Middle school was an environment where I felt I could easily excel, but I felt the rigor

of University High School even on the first day. It was hard to become accustomed to the

demanding environment, but I merely began by listening to the critics and applying them. If I

decided to be offended, I would be restricting my growth as a student and a writer. Reflecting

and analyzing my mistakes now I completely understand where everyone was coming from. As I

was going through the paper, I was bamboozled by “That is a large sum of money indeed...”. It is

such an awkward phrase that I know little Hilary thought was superior. Today, I know that the

phrase could be worded differently in order to help the paper’s flow. If I must be truthful, I
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dreaded going to English Freshman year. It was not because I disliked my peers or the teacher,

but because I felt great pressure to perform better than I believed I could. My head would

constantly feel hot and also felt the need to cry. I know I have grown because I believe in myself

and my ability to perform what is expected of me. If I do fail, I now know it is okay because

there is always time and people to help and improve. There is no one praying on your downfall

and instead a whole community ready to support you. I am no longer afraid to ask for help. My

growth only began freshman year and continued on to sophomore year when I worked on the

Bosnian-Herzegovina genocide. I focused on analyzing the genocide through an ethical lens. By

merely reading the introduction, I notice tremendous improvement in my writing. I do not need

to use big words in order to get my point across and I account that to an increase in confidence. I

remember a significant change in my attitude my sophomore year and it was a result of me

getting used to the rigorous environment and making more significant connections with my

peers. My organization skills also seemed to have improved because I can easily follow my

thought process even now. I may be biased, but that paper was not too bad. I definitely see

growth from my writing freshman year to sophomore year. Though, my progress was stagnant

when the pandemic struck, and we went online. I had a very difficult time getting my work done

at the end of both semesters of junior year. I started both off strong, feeling motivated and ready

to stay on top of my work. That motivation was extremely difficult to maintain without being in

person and having someone to constantly keep me accountable. I could be doing very well but let

myself turn in an assignment late and suddenly it was okay to turn in all of my assignments late.

Anyways, my junior PAs were of very poor quality. I struggled to get them done and I am very

sorry for delaying your work and any inconvenience I caused. Thank you so much for grading

my PA even on the last day of school, you are one of a kind Ms. White. Please know that I
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appreciate everything you have done and am forever grateful for your constant support and

flexibility. Moving on from my love confession, my junior PA was lacking in several ways. For

instance, the analysis did not connect back to both the claim and the evidence. I merely

summarized and did not explain my ideas thoroughly. I knew as I wrote the paper that my

analysis was insufficient, but I did not care enough to fix it and add more. My writing took a toll

last year because I did not care or was motivated enough to do more. I failed to apply many of

the skills and tools I was taught in my first two years. I have tried to apply all I know my senior

year. I demonstrated I can provide quality work with the poetry responses by passing them on the

first try. My senioritis began a little earlier than I expected, and I neglected my senior paper. I

managed to do the bare minimum and turn in my drafts on time, but I did not make the

corrections I knew it needed. I recognized my paper needed more analysis and specifically to

pull apart pieces of the evidence, but I failed to do so. It required a rewrite, a fate I accepted long

before I submitted it. For the rewrite, I worked to pull apart quotes and explain my evidence

piece by piece. I am proud of myself for completing my senior paper because freshman me

would never be able to or believe I could write a 20-page essay. It has been a difficult four years,

but I am sad it is almost over.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING, I LOVE YOU MS WHITE <3