Portfolio Essay
“You are the Vanguard Class of 2020,” said Lieutenant Colonel Cross after a long first day at USMAPS. In July 20, 2016 this phrase did not mean much to me. I completely ignored the definition of what a vanguard is. By definition a vanguard is a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas. After three semesters of rigorous academics and military bearing, I now understand and know what it feels like to be a part of the Vanguard Class of 2020. Throughout the course of this year I developed many learning skills in which will definitely help me succeed in my upcoming years downhill at USMA. In the beginning of the academic year, I did not like to read nor write. My grammar needed a lot of help. Therefore, the first semester I focused on specifically grammar and writing. The first paper I ever wrote and turned in for a grade at USMAPS received a 72%. Being Mr. Mediocre I was completely content with not failing. In all honesty, the Little Brown …show more content…
My organization improved and my so did my vocabulary. The course reader is a book full of short stories and poems. Having read almost the entire book by now, I have obtain much knowledge in different ideas in American Literature. My favorite short story in the course reader is easily “The Open Boat,” although the ending is not to my liking it is an entertaining story about brotherhood and unity in order to survive. Second semester my class did not just read the story. We read it and had a group discussion all class about what happened in the story and took into account all the internal and external factors of each story. I will be honest and say I have never analyzed anything before this critically. It is absolutely incredible what one can analyze in a simple short story. By far my most entertaining and helpful way to read and learn what the author could be saying. I became a much better reader through this
“You are the Vanguard Class of 2020,” said Lieutenant Colonel Cross after a long first day at USMAPS. In July 20, 2016 this phrase did not mean much to me. I completely ignored the definition of what a vanguard is. By definition a vanguard is a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas. After three semesters of rigorous academics and military bearing, I now understand and know what it feels like to be a part of the Vanguard Class of 2020. Throughout the course of this year I developed many learning skills in which will definitely help me succeed in my upcoming years downhill at USMA. In the beginning of the academic year, I did not like to read nor write. My grammar needed a lot of help. Therefore, the first semester I focused on specifically grammar and writing. The first paper I ever wrote and turned in for a grade at USMAPS received a 72%. Being Mr. Mediocre I was completely content with not failing. In all honesty, the Little Brown …show more content…
My organization improved and my so did my vocabulary. The course reader is a book full of short stories and poems. Having read almost the entire book by now, I have obtain much knowledge in different ideas in American Literature. My favorite short story in the course reader is easily “The Open Boat,” although the ending is not to my liking it is an entertaining story about brotherhood and unity in order to survive. Second semester my class did not just read the story. We read it and had a group discussion all class about what happened in the story and took into account all the internal and external factors of each story. I will be honest and say I have never analyzed anything before this critically. It is absolutely incredible what one can analyze in a simple short story. By far my most entertaining and helpful way to read and learn what the author could be saying. I became a much better reader through this