Dan Roberts
I was born and raised in Upstate New York, along with my thirteen-year-old brother Matthew and my sister Jeannine. My parents always encouraged us to pursue our passions and at very young ages we were allowed to explore a variety of activities and hobbies that, at the time, seemed interesting to us. No matter how far they had to drive or how long they had to wait, our parents would always support whatever group or organization in which we would involve ourselves. It was through this constant support that I was confident in my decision to come to James Madison University, despite its distance from my childhood home.
The minute I stepped onto the campus, I was forced to interact with a
population of people that would test my philosophies and methods of thought.
As I continued defending my traditions and beliefs, I began to realize
that perhaps I did not have such a vice-like grip on issues as I had originally
believed. It was at this time that I began to analyze many of the events
that had occurred in my life to that point. The opportunity to express
my redefined thought process came when Ms. Storey gave her GWRIT 102D
class their first assignment.
As I was writing the draft to Jeannine, I was flooded with a stream
of memories that I was forced to re-interpret in manners contrasting to
those I had used in the past. The problem with memories is that they often
present themselves as bits and pieces, and it is not until you understand
them that they begin to play out like a motion picture inside your head.
The first draft I turned in for the assignment was an example of my struggles
with my memory. The revision process forced me to write down all the details
that I had not included in my draft. Through this I was able to call upon
my memories and convey the thoughts and emotions that I had desired, for
memories are not events, but details that make up an event. The revision
of Jeannine was a compilation of details that made up our relationship.
