the little narrative that could...maybe

The Little Narrative That Could...Maybe

Setting: Literacy Narrative

Time: October through November of 2012

Character: Myself

Monologue

It began with a few simple ideas. I planned on writing my narrative like every teacher in high school expected us to write our essays. Very informative, simple, and boring. That’s not how I wanted to write it, but that’s how they asked us to, and it was easier than thinking of something big and creative. I was kind of taken aback by being asked to write outside my comfort zone. After writing the same way time after time, writing in a different style was, well lack of a better word, different. After I went through like 5 different topics, it was time for me to start writing. I decided for the first draft I would stay in my comfort zone just because coming up with a creative introduction was too frustrating. I was worried that I would sound stupid. I wanted to sound witty and unique but it was just not working. After another class, I read some examples of pieces that were written differently. I sat behind my laptop a few days later trying to write like those authors did and it really took a lot of work to get it to be alright.  I decided to turn it in as is and hope that it was creative and different. I still don’t know how I did but I certainly hope it was enough to be considered out of the box. My literacy narrative speaks from my feelings and genuine thoughts and I feel like that should be enough. But the fact that I don’t know if it was enough still makes me worry. Overall, this assigned had me puzzled. It made me question what I’ve been taught after all this time, and I’m still not sure what the right way to write is.

Scene.

Ethnography reflection!

My ethnography project was on Relationships and what some of the underlying issues hidden behind fairy tale relationships. In the beginning, I felt like I would easily be able to get this project done. So many people are in unique relationships in college, it’d be no problem. But it was actually very difficult. Not many people, especially girls want to be filmed so that a whole class can watch her speak. I mean, to be honest, I really wouldn’t want my face plastered on a screen talking about my relationship status. Who’s business is it anyway other than my own?

When we tried to think of an angle for our project, it really wasn’t too hard. I just thought about some of the things in my relationship that other people really don’t get to see – pet peeves, arguments, etc. Lacy mentioned to us about homosexual relationships but a lot of people in that community are afraid or uncomfortable talking about their sexuality. I personally did not want make this project controversial just because you never know how it could turn out. I wanted it to be casual.

Working together in a group went fairly well. The only hard part was like our schedules are all different so it’s difficult to plan get-togethers outside of class.

In high school I had a few opportunities to do different projects like videos and I’ve really enjoyed them. This on the otherhand was much harder just because I don’t know very many people like I did in high school. And I didn’t want to offend anyone with any crazy questions whereas in high school, I knew everyone better which made it easier to talk to other students.

Overall, the project gave me a broader perspective on relationships and how different and unique all of them are. It was kind of like a behind the scenes look on real relationships, and it made me think about underlife within my own long-term relationship with my boyfriend.