Coming as a freshman this year to college was a new experience for me.  As my cover page explains exactly where I am in my college career, In this essay I would like to expand on this point.  The first day of school was different from my experience.  But what really started this journey was the application to get into the school.  It was so stressful to have to wait and see if you are good enough to be accepted to their school.  Then once I received the letter I was so excited that I forgot that I actually had to start going to school.  But after I went to the orientation, and realized what I had gotten myself into it was time to start the journey.
        The journey started with scheduling the classes.  I already knew what I wanted to do and so I was ready to schedule my classes, but what I didn't know what was this "Freshman Inquiry" thing was.  So I was just kind of looking around to see which one my friends were getting into, and that was the one that I signed up for.  On the first day of school when I arrived at my inquiry class I didn't know what to expect I started my journey like a blind man.  We first got our syllabus and we were shown what we were expected to do.  So it started with the teacher showing us what the goals for the class were.  I didn't know what was going on I just went along with what was being done.  So the teacher kind of set the goals and the expectations and I thought I was expected to perform up to these standards.  And now it is the end of the year and we are supposed to reflect on these goals that were set, and see if we met them.  On another assignment that you will find on this website you can see the four goals and a piece of work that I believe best reflects that goal.
        One thing that I know I was expected to learn was to be analytical.  Not only from my teacher but also from other students that have taken this class before.  I always heard that the best thing you will learn from and inquiry class is to be analytical.  And I believe I have accomplished this goal, maybe not to the best of my ability, but somewhat I have.  One other thing that I know I have learned from this class was to go out and do good.  As this year ends we are all going on to different paths and we know that we might never see each other again, but what thing that we will all share is the things we learned.  We learned how to analyze certain situations and how to be analytical.  That I will never forget.  As the year comes to an end we need to take what we have learned and put it into practice.  I don't think this year has been a waste but I believe that we can prevent it from going to waste by applying our learning skills, and do good in the world.
        A major tool that I have also learned in this class is writing.  As I look back on my first papers I can see the difference in the words, and arrangements of my papers.  I was always bad at writing and never liked it much, but I have learned that writing can be very fun if you know how to use the right words and arrangements to say exactly what you are feeling.  I have learned that sometimes there are things you can't say in words, so it's a struggle to try.  But one accompishment becomes a victory.  Maybe the first time will be difficult, but the second time will be much easier.  I have to say that I did complain about all the writing assignments that were assigned.  But now I can say that without them I would have never become a better writer.
        Our professor was difficult but now I can see why she was so rough with us.  I am reminded of a story that I once heard.  It is the story of becoming a pearl.  Do you know how a pearl becomes so beautiful.  Well pearls are very rare and very beautiful, it happens when a clam gets a piece of sand in between her shell and her skin.  Well this clam fights and fights to try to get that piece of sand out of her shell, but it is very difficult for her.  So for many years she struggles and struggles and never becomes successful.  So every time she cries and cries and drops liquid to try to get the sand out.  Well this doesn't work, but what is being performed is amazing.  When she dies there is a pearl left, because all the struggle and crying made the skin a pearl.  I believe it is the same way with us, and the teacher.  The teacher can be the sand we as students are the clam.  By the end of the term we have made a pearl.  And now here we are offering it to you as the reader, to see what you think.
        As the year comes to an end we have become much better writers and much better as people.  We are now at the end of the year to offer our pearl to you.  We have tried and suffered, and many of us probably cried over the amount of assignments given.  But now we are done, we are succesful.  Our journey has come to an end.

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