WRITING AS MEDIUM
Why do I write? First, I write because I have feelings that are sometimes well said when written. You see, I used to be that someone who is really not outspoken. I keep almost all my thoughts to myself that sometimes, when I get the chance to say it, It gets tangled up making it harder to express.
I used to consider writing as my way of letting it all out. As if writing is my refuge. When I was in high school, every time I feel down, I write my emotions to my notebooks. Sometimes when I feel intensely sad, I grab any notebook near me and write on it. I even cry while I write. Nowadays, I no longer feel the same way and as I read through my “diaries”, I never would’ve realized how emotional I was during those days.
I also use writing as a way to record my life because I love travelling down memory lane. I love taking time reading through my “diaries” and see myself during that exact time. Like when mom and I had a fight, I wrote with such strength that my pen ran through the paper like a knife. There are also times when I feel too happy that I write with the most beautiful hand writing I could ever produce. Such times tell me that I could be extreme.
I would like to call those days as my transition period. The time when I hit rough waters just to get to whom I am now. From the past me who was too introverted to the present me who am a little less introverted and a little more outspoken. Writing really makes a big contribution to my growth.
But, I seldom write nowadays. It’s not a bad thing. I seldom write nowadays because I found a new way to express myself, it’s through my friends. I used to be calm all the time and it makes me think that I can handle everything on my way with ease. But it’s actually not true. I used to be too calm because I lack experience. I lack exposure to other emotions and to people who ignite to you such emotions. I may have felt a lot of emotions when I was still in high school but I deal with it only between me and myself. I’ve never tried dealing it with other people.
Aside from expressing feelings as a reason for writing, my second reason is, well practically, I really want to practice my writing skills.
When I was a toddler, my dream was to become a nurse. I really would want to take care of my parents when they’re old. When I finally became a senior in high school and when the time of decision making comes as to what academic program I should take in college, Psychology caught my interest. But now, as all of those dreams died, a new dream was born. Now my dream is to become a writer. I realized if I become a writer, not only will I be able express myself and care for other people like nurses does but I would also be able to give my ideas to people and probably give answers to their questions like psychologists. In order to become an effective writer, I must continually practice by writing about simply anything. I need to experience a lot of things or at least empathize with a lot of people so that I may be able to share rich information about it. Writing really has many benefits. I believe that if one is truthful enough in writing something, that person would most likely grow better and become an effective writer someday.
Just like Ms. Pat Mora, I want people to hear my voice through my works, if and only if, I would really become a published writer. It would probably be great to touch other people’s life through my works, probably even more precious than earning lots of money and fame.
My third reason for writing would be because I had to. I remembered during my Journalism class where we had to write news articles. I never wrote news articles before; well at least not as serious as is it is in my Journalism class. Within our group we divided tasks as to who would write the hard news, feature story, and so on. I was assigned to do the feature story and I had the idea of featuring my choir. I already gathered the needed information long before the deadline but I was able to make the story on the day of the deadline itself. I didn’t have the motivation to do it until the deadline. You see, I’m usually motivated because I have responsibilities, not because I’m interested in doing it. I had to write therefore I wrote. Just like now, I had to write an essay therefore I wrote it.
I actually enjoyed doing this essay. Although I did have a hard time filling this paper with 1000 words, I was able to express the main reasons why I write and how writing affects my life. Now somebody else will now why I write and how it affects my life. And if a stranger would be able to read this essay, he/she would be able to hear my voice if he would really, honestly, read my essay. I wish he/she would reflect on the same idea and recognize his own reasons for writing. If he/she is not a writer then at least, try doing so sometimes and test if whether or not it has the same effects like how it is to me.