Briana Dobra

ENG 1101 

Final Portfolio & Reflection

Reflection

This semester has reigned as one of the hardest things I had to go through. In my first narrative, I stated “One large event, or many small events, can impact the way a student reacts towards the education system, and can aid a hand in the way they may continue their education in the near future.” I found this to be more true than ever. Personally speaking, there were several large events that took place within the last few months that broke my spirit. It made me rethink everything that I was doing until I remembered that I had also said  “We must not hold on to the bad things in life, and learn to not only try to understand others, but yourself as well.” This helped me remain hopeful. I learned that although difficulty may strike, I will make it out on the other end. This may be helpful for others to understand, as I know it was for my family and I. In accordance with mental health, the unit 2 project was my favorite. I was grateful to research a topic that I was interested, rather than being forced to learn about. I learned several things regarding mental health, how it ties into quarantine and the pandemic, and how those signs and symptoms may look. I wanted my assignment to have different ways of reaching my audience, whether it was through reading medical journals, watching a video, or reading poetry. I’d like to think there was something in my assignment for everyone. I believe my writing improved as I continued on with my assignments. I also figured out that research and writing can’t be rushed. There are so many elements that go into completing one’s research and assignments, that one should give themselves enough time to finish it, as it can be overwhelming. Notably, a lesson I realized after my assignments is that everyone is going through something. “The statistics in this article show many people ended up with PTSD, depressive disorders, acute anxiety, as well as several other mental illnesses.” Understanding the statistics, and seeing how many people are suffering gives you more empathy and understanding with others, which may be one of the most important lessons of all. This  semester is what seemed to be a never ending downpour of tragic events, and I didn’t think I’d make it to the end of the semester, but I’m glad I have an incredibly supportive sister that helps me get through anything. Support systems are important in life. I’ve learned a lot about who I am as a daughter, cousin, friend, and student. I’ll be able to apply everything I’ve learned to future classes, and future readings/writings. I’ll spread all the knowledge I’ve gained through this class to others in need.