I often wonder how (and when) I got so into writing. As a child, I was terrible at writing – I even took extracurricular writing classes on the weekends. I don’t think they helped much at all, so I stopped eventually. But somehow, high school English classes brought out the writer in me.

I remember averaging A-’s on all my essays in my honors freshman English class (always 100% on grammar and 80% on content). At that point, I started figuring out the craft–all the little things that make writing an art; I just wasn’t getting the deeper analysis. By the end of the year, I felt I’d improved quite a bit and expected that I’d get through the next year with the same ease. In my honors sophomore English class, I got something like a B on my first essay. While that was quite unexpected, I accepted it as it was.

Fast forward to junior year–AP English Language & Composition. Wow. I don’t know what I expected, but I figured that the strength of my writing would carry me through the class, despite how terrible I was (and still am) at critical reading/reading comprehension. Little did I know that I would get a C on my first essay. I didn’t even think that was a possibility, but that’s what happened. My confidence definitely took a hit. And honestly, I was shocked (and kind of terrified).

I wondered what I had gotten myself into, and seriously thought about switching out of the class. The only reason I stayed was because my best friend, with whom I shared the class, begged me to. Now, in retrospect, I’m so incredibly grateful that I stayed. My writing certainly wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for this one class because it was in this class that I really developed my style.

I learned so much about who I am as a writer and strived to be better–not only for the grade, but also to prove to myself that I was as strong a writer as I thought. As the year went on, the grades I received on essays got higher and higher, and my love for writing grew deeper and deeper. I may have struggled initially, but I came out a stronger writer, without a doubt.

What I learned through this experience is applicable to so much more than an English class. While it’s applicable to the academic experience at any level, it’s also applicable to life in general. It reinforces the importance of persistence, the importance of not giving up.

I hit an obstacle, and my first instinct was to give up, without even trying to overcome it, and run in the opposite direction. What I actually did was the opposite. I faced my obstacle head on and eventually, I overcame it. What I initially considered a failure, I now consider the starting point of this journey that I’ve chosen. While moving mountains certainly isn’t easy, it’s so worth it. As cheesy as it is, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

So to all of my past English teachers, thank you for teaching me everything that I know now. Thank you for helping me find my voice through writing. To my AP English teacher, thank you for pushing me to be better. And to teachers in general, thank you for everything.