When the writing teacher first met Brandon Hammitt, the first request he had -- standing at 6 four inches, was: "Please understand that I'm not a football or basketball player."
He was shy and believed he had little to offer. At least that's what he told the class. Once he began writing, however, at the encouragement of his classmates, he learned he had an ability to write. He will attend CSU, Domniguez Hills, this fall.
This is how he summed the experience up:
By Brandon Hammitt, 17,
“Going into this class for the first time, I felt uneasy at my ability and shy at having them accept or reject me based on their judgments.
I have changed.
I used to scoff at the idea of revealing myself to others, especially others who I see frequently or others who, even scarier, are my close friends.
I have changed a lot.
I didn’t want to look for a job or go to college or meet new people or talk in public because I hated rejection.
Now, at this point in my life, I fear not the trials and errors ahead of me. I fear not talking to unfamiliar people or speaking to others. I fear not rejection and failure as I had so soon before been immobilized by.
I have a job, and it’s helped me grow, both in my individuality and my social skills. I have grown not to fear failure or the resulting reprimands for it. I am changed so much now because of this class.
Writing to me used to be unfamiliar, and scary. But now, it is a way to express my true feelings and thoughts to others. It is somewhat impersonal but it is a start.
Writing to me is away to express my creative side in an environment that is in no way harmful to my self esteem or state of mind.
I can now tell someone what I think of them honestly, while not being mean or disheartening.
I have more confidence. I have higher self-esteem. I trust myself and put trust into others as well as myself.
I like writing. I knew I did when I was younger --, liked to write, liked to create, liked to draw. But that fervor diminished over the years by oppression of potential failure or the burden of embarrassment. I know now to trust myself as person to do what is needed, and I am thankful that the class led me to this solid state.
