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Tien Doan
Professor Adler
English 100 STACC, # 3638
5 December 2014
What I Had Learn in English 100
In the first semester at Pasadena City College, I took English 100 STACC with Professor
Adler, and in this class I have changed a lot and improved my skills of writing and reading. I
thought the class would be easy at the first place, so I did not pay attention and got bad grades
for my first two essays. Then I realized that I need to work harder in order to pass this class. I
learned new strategy to read and write, and was willing to go out and ask people for helps.
Throughout English 100, I changed my ways of learning. I changed from a girl who turned in
assignment in order to get some grades to a person who is willing to ask questions and put more
time and efforts on essay.
At the beginning of English 100, I did not care and focus on any assignments in his
course. When I first studied in this class, I had a really bad attitude towards reading and writing.
In my first semester in college, I still kept the methods of studying English from high school,
and that affected my grades seriously. When I was in high school, as long as I ramped everything
in the last minutes and turned something in, I would still get the grades. Also, I never asked
anyone for help with my assignments during high schools years. Therefore, at the beginning of
English 100 class, I did not pay attention when I read the text and put much efforts in my essay.
Even though there were things I got confused on the instructions or did not understand the
lecture in class, I would not ask for clarification. At that time, I had a fixed at that time because I
thought I would never do well in English. I gave myself the excuses that English is my second

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language and I was confused at grammar, so I can just give up on the class. Instead of paying
more attention to my English class, I put more time in other classes, especially College 1 because
it gave me so many assignments. I never thought about trying harder in class, because in my
mind, as long as I turn all the assignments in, I would pass this class. My poor study attitudes
made me fail dramatically on my first two essays. I got Cs minus on both of the essays, and I
suddenly realized that I need to put more efforts and try harder in this class. I could not give up
this class for the excuse of I am not good at it.
I walked into English 100 class with a fixed mindset that I would not do well, and that led
me to fail my first two essays. At the beginning, I did not try as hard as I could, and I only did the
essays because they were mandatory. The essay I struggled the most was my second essay, the
literacy narrative essay. The requirements of that essay were so difficult for me that I had to
include so many things, like my study experiences, quote from the reading, etc. Also, midterm
came at that time, instead of putting times and efforts for this essay, I put a lot of time to focus on
other classes. I turned in seven pages essay that includes all of the requirements, so I thought I
would have a B for this essay; however, it turned out that I failed it. I met the professor and
discussed about it, and he explained that he failed my essay because my writing skill did not
meet the requirement of the class and I had too many grammar mistakes. I suddenly realized that
I was not in high school anymore; I would not receive any grade if I did not put hard work in my
assignments. I felt so ashamed because I did not put efforts in this essay, and I earned what I ad
for it. Failing this essay had woke me up from my daydreaming; it showed me that college life
was harder than what I had expected. At that moment, I understood that I had two choices: either
I drop the class or keep up and try to work harder. I chose to stay and decided to change my
mindset in this class in order to get as much help as I could.

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After failing the second essay, I changed my mindset and attitude toward English 100. At
beginning of the class, I had a fixed mindset when it came to reading and writing. I knew that I
was not good at those things, so I did not try hard or put efforts in my assignments. I then
changed my mind to a growth mindset and tried to overcome a challenge that I was not good at
English, along with getting as much help as I could. I met with the professor and discussed what
I should do to change my grade and pass this class. I paid attention when the professor explained
the essay form, and I asked him right away whenever I got confused on any part and made sure
that I was on the right track in class. I learned how to incorporate a quote into an essay and
research sources in library website. I also participated in class and group work. Instead of sitting
quietly during essay workshop days, I walked to the people who were good at writing essay in
class and asked them to proofread my essay. I also listened to the professors advice and went to
the tutoring center, writing center, and library to ask for help. I realized that I should not feel
ashamed whenever I ask for help because I need to understand my weakness and fix it, not
putting it aside and giving up on it. I put a lot of effort in studying English. As a result, my
writing skill got better and I changed my method of studying. My efforts have paid off when I
got a good grade in my third essay.
The essay I most proud of was the third essay in English 100 class, the literacy analysis
essay. My grade on this essay showed me that nothing is impossible, and I could achieve what I
want if I put efforts in it. On this essay, I had to analyze about one theme in the book, The
Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse. The memories about my failures from before had
made me try harder on this in order to improve my grade. I created a whole plan of what I should
do on this essay. First, I went up and discussed the topic I want to write about with my professor.
After he approved it, I started to write the draft and edited it. I had about two weeks to finish this

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essay, so I divided the work in small pieces and set up goals for them. My first goal was writing a
paragraph every day, so I could finish the draft within the first week. Then, I asked my friends if
they can correct the grammar for me, because I knew that my grammar was terrible. On the
second week, I brought that essay to the tutoring center and asked them help me edit it. I went to
the Writing Center in C building and the Pathway tutoring in V building to ask the tutor
questions about my analysis of the essay. Even though not all of the tutors were helpful, I still
learned a lot from them. I understood how to put my opinions into the analysis part of the essay,
use verb tenses in different situations, and write a straightforward and organized essay. I worked
hard on this essay and my efforts had paid off. As a result, I got a B on my essay. To me, it was a
huge change. I failed on the last essay and got a B on this one. It made me realized that if I put
times and efforts in my work, then I will achieve success in life. Also, I enjoyed this class more
because I learned new things and knew that I could keep up with it. My attitude toward reading
and writing changed completely. I look forward to English 1A class.
I will take English 1A with the same classmates and professor for next semester, and I
will set some goals for this class. Studying in the same class would make me feel more
comfortable, and I could also keep my strategy of learning the same. My goal for next semester
is passing the class with a B or above. In other to do that, I need to work harder and pay more
attention in class. I had many regrets in English 100 because I did not work hard at the beginning
and I failed half of the course. Now, for English 1A, I want to have a good start. I want to work
my best at the beginning, then I do not have to make up at the end of it. I also want to plan
everything ahead rather than wait till the last minute. Lastly, I will to go to tutoring and edit my
essay every times before I turn it in. I wish I could do well in English 1A class, since I know
what my weaknesses are and I am willing to fix it.