Final Portfolio & Reflection; Valediction

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Portfolios are due.

In the COMMENT section (or type/hand write & turn in), please reflect on your improvement through 4-6 years of Creative Writing in the program. What were the highlights for you? What have you gained or learned from the process?

HOMEWORK: None. You are done. Go with my blessing on to great things!

Congratulations class of 2018!!!

Enjoy prom and I'll see you at graduation!

Comments

Unknown said…
The last four years of being in this apartment ive progressed with my genres of writing and finding myself in more of a urbanized creative writer and i found allot of interest in poetry ive gotten more responsible over the years hahahahahahahahaha
June 8, 2018 at 7:43 AM
Unknown said…
Creative Writing has been interesting. Mr. Craddock is sassy and rude a lot of the time, and Gamzon's really disheveled. I love them both though. as they have improved my writing so much over the years, and have allowed me to read many things that I never would've without being forced to, but secretly wanted to. The highlights of the class are the transmedia projects from Gamzon's class, and film studies and play-writing with Craddock. Watching movies in class is always fun. This class has stressed me out more than any of my others, but I have also gained to much that I know I will take with me into college. Thanks for everything. Glad I'm done though.
June 8, 2018 at 7:44 AM
Unknown said…
These last four years in the Creative Writing Department have been nothing less than entertaining and unpredictable. Each class in Gamzon and Craddock's room has had its moments that are fun but also require intense effort. With their help, I have developed time management, perseverance, and other skills that will be essential in our higher education.
This year was very difficult for me. The combination of senior stress and the higher workload in Writing Across Cultures with the marking period portfolios was tasking. However, I again learned to push on, completing the work to the best of my ability.
I will not forget all the Creative Writing Department has done for me as I go off into college and the workforce.
June 8, 2018 at 7:45 AM
Anonymous said…
The past four years in the creative writing department have been a whirlwind of lessons, challenges, and and triumphs. When I first began the track in ninth grade, my writing was highly unsophisticated and looking back on any and all of my writing from that period is embarrassing. However, my junior year is the year I saw the most growth in my writing and finally was in tune with my own voice as a writers. Classes like Playwriting and Film Studies pushed me toward my love of scripts and theatre, blending my interests and making me excited about the writing I could produce. In addition, Contemporary Writers introduced me to important literature and helped me strengthen my work across genres. Poetry is no longer my least favorite thing in the world. Ms. Gamzon's workshop class let me explore poetry on a different level and produce pieces that I was proud to call my own. If nothing else, this department taught me how to be hardworking and keep improving because there is always something to be done. I'm appreciative for the work ethic that these courses have promoted and will take all of those skills with me into higher learning.
June 8, 2018 at 7:46 AM
Queenrita said…
The past four years as a part of the Creative Writing department have been very interesting for me to say the least. I remember how I used to complete my work with such vigor and determination. I (obviously) am not getting my Creative Writing diploma, but that doesn't mean that I haven't learned anything in my four years; my writing has definitely improved. My personal style of writing has been sharpened at the edges, and even though I've learned that I don't take well to every form of writing, I have learned where my niche is when it comes to writing, and I've improved there.

~ Serita McKenzie
June 8, 2018 at 7:49 AM
Unknown said…
Over the past 4-6 years my writing has grown a lot. Reading my old stories makes me cringe, I had always had good character development but my grammar and my structures were weak and something always felt like it was missing until 11th grade. I feel like that was my breakout class and I loved each of the creative writing classes. Writing plays and movies were always something I wanted to do and that made me grow. I feel like my plots have become stronger as well as my use of literary devices in my writing. So I feel like I have successfully grown. Now I am done.
June 8, 2018 at 7:49 AM
Unknown said…
We're graduating holy (excuse my french) shit!!!!! The last 4-6 years have been wheeeeeeeeew; although we often complained about the heavy workload, I think I appreciated a lot when it came to learning how to juggle all of my courses and what not. In terms of actual writing I think it's safe to say we've all become stronger writers. We're not writing the cringey teen love stories or about how hopeless we are—we're all writing deep, insightful pieces that, I believe, could be considered art. The highlights for me have honestly been you, Mr. Craddock, and Ms. Gamzon—you guys are amazing teachers and mentors and I don't know where I'd be without your sense of humor, sarcasm, and just genuine want for us to be the best writers we can and be the most successful we know we can. I'm extremely grateful for the skills I've learned here and can't wait to take them into college with me.
June 8, 2018 at 7:49 AM
//SJP// said…
Over the last two years of being a Creative Writing Major, I have grown immensely as both a writer and a person. When I first joined the program, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do then and after high-school. I was in a rough place; however, I found the guidance that I was looking for. Starting school here at SOTA changed my life. I was able to learn about the craft of writing, all of the different genres and approaches. Not only that but also how to deeply understand literature and media in ways I didn’t before. I got to join workshops and have discussions with peers that changed my perspective on a lot. I learned new skills and what I liked to write. From everything to the short film project to having the freedom to explore in my projects. I will never forget scaring people in the park with a cheap clown costume for the silent film, or bonding over a shared hatred of certain politicians that shall not be named. I will not forget the friends that I have made either, the people here that gave me the courage to keep writing and get better along the way. They always had my back no matter how many stupid and obvious questions I asked. Being here has made me feel a sense of community that I never thought I would have and for that, I am eternally grateful. As much as my high school experience has been horrid, I won’t lie, I am going to miss it here. Being in this program saved me in more ways than most will ever know, and I won’t forget that.
June 8, 2018 at 7:49 AM
Deja Simmons said…
I've only been here two years, but I've still had an okay time nonetheless. I've learned how to finish a portfolio in one night, or just not do it at all. I loved being able to spend time procrastinating in class, talking to Bella , while not doing my work. This year had its highs and lows, I had my fair share of meltdowns but the only thing that matters is that I'm here today. Of course there are some parts of the Creative Writing program, but I'm glad to be done. The Film Studies course is what helped me decide what I want to major in in college and I've grown to love film because of it. Although Gamzon and Craddock get on my nerves 99.9% of the time I still enjoyed being able to be taught new things by them and I won't forget the times in class I had with them. I was also able to grow in my poetry.
All in all, thank you so much for the past two years at SOTA. It's been wild and fun and absolutely terrible at once.
June 8, 2018 at 7:49 AM
Unknown said…
Throughout the six years, I have been here I have learned a lot. I have learned that poetry doesn't need to rhyme, I learned the correct playwright format even though I can't write a play for nothing, and I learned that main characters dying isn't as interesting as it seems. I learned that reading YA books and modeling my writing after them isn't as desirable, and I learned that being a writer is a lot and lots of work. I learned discipline through the meeting of deadlines and writing countless pages every day, and I learned the meaning of constructive criticism and that it actually does help and not destroy. I have also gained many friendships and confidence through my writing, and it helped me find my voice in this world. I have learned so much through the six years I have been here, and I have a feeling that I would only continue to grow. Some of my favorite highlights have been the poetry movies, our trips to Geva even though they were few, and the close bond we have formed with each other. We have lost some and gained some over the years, but we still continued to be a family. I loved the THIS IS NOT poem we did together and all of the movies we have watched and enjoyed. I loved the bagel parties, and the all of the coffeehouses we have done together. I'm going to miss this class, but I know that its time for us to go our separate ways. These six years have been amazing for me.
June 8, 2018 at 7:51 AM
Unknown said…
The past four years can only be described as WILD. How can it be the end of senior year already, you know? But nonetheless I can't explain how much it's been an experience to be able to be apart of the Creative Writing Department. I was a mess back in 9th grade, adn to actively see the development and shift in style is crazy for me, to realize that I *did* craft my own style through the years and that there IS a style to be seen from a mesh of words. It was kind of amazing. However, Creative Writing has definitely opened my boundaries and my world, because I had thought I was only good at poetry, but then I realized how much fun I had playwriting and I have definitely gotten better at my story telling; at least HALF the time my stories are bland! Improvement! I think some of best (and maybe some of worst) times in Creative Writing were workshopping. It was super stressful but I still had a good time listening to everyone's writing! I truly have come to understand in the Creative Writing department that as long as one works enough at a skill, they WILL master it.
June 8, 2018 at 7:58 AM
Anonymous said…
I do believe that my time in Creative Writing has helped me become a more adapt writer, and has helped me in many aspects of my life. When we were applying for colleges, it was nice to be able to have had a background in writing that allowed me to feel comfortable in my essays and writing.

However, I would not want to continue this major in college. I’m so tired of writing every day, and have exhausted my supply of ideas. I have appreciated the prompts on the blogs, but I still have been finding it increasingly hard to turn them into a comprehensive story or poem or play.

I have liked spending my mornings in this class, though, because it’s a nice way to wake up and not too mind taxing. I found I really enjoyed playwriting, which isn’t something I would have thought I would like otherwise. I also like poetry, but not fiction as much. Who wouldn’t knwn.

It’s been a good time.
June 8, 2018 at 7:59 AM
Liana Caez said…
Creative Writing is such a bittersweet feeling to move away from. It's taught me more things than I thought it did and definitely prepared me for the future in terms of grammar, punctuation, differences between revisions and editing, and the sole purpose for G-2 pens. Overall, I am grateful for both Gamzon and Craddock for making me feel more grown up than ever, this class was the reason I needed to stop procrastinating. I still haven't completely gotten over that yet, though I've gotten better. The packet of late passes was a funny touch, I appreciated it. These two classes stressed me out the most and made me realize that writing wasn't something that I purely enjoyed anymore like I did before, but it still taught me so much about writing in general and that's what I appreciated most about these things. Overall, I am glad to have been apart of this crazy class and appreciate all the things taught and learned and will forever be grateful to have had the people and resources from this class to help me on the way. So I thank you.
June 10, 2018 at 11:14 AM
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