End-of-Year Concluding Statement   Throughout the course of my sophomore year in English, I have learned more about the workings of the written word than ever previous. Studying novels instead of grammar books heightened my sense of the beauty of language more than the function of it. The year began with a rough start. Learning a completely new concept (webpage design) was a hurdle that tripped the class for most of the first semester. All the while, as we were floundering to meet the demands of the ominous html, we were trying to keep up with reading novel after novel. Later in the year, we were assailed with in-depth projects of many journal entries, freewrites, setting descriptions, persona simulations, and of course, an enormous research paper. As the class matured in their struggle with html, I became less and less of a critical part. I got to see my classmates take the instruction that I had given them (being the html-sage, at first) and turn it into something palpable. Such a feeling is thrilling, and it paid off in the end. After surmounting all of these obstacles, the class, myself included, reached a higher level. A higher level, not just in grammar, but in comprehension of an author's subtler meanings. A higher level in the grueling task of collecting research, and assembling it into something truly impressive. A higher level in reading — attacking two novels in a month became easier and easier, to a point at which I am now happy to see myself comprehending books and communicating my analyses better than ever. A higher level in the mastery of displaying our talent; webpages opened up our work to the world, and now everyone (even Heather!) can create them. A higher level in vocabulary (although that was my strongpoint from the beginning) was met by completing endless exercises. A higher level in understanding characters was met by 'becoming' some of the characters in Julius Caesar. Most recently, I reached a higher level in my abilities as a poet — never before had I spent so much effort on a poem, and in my mind, it paid off. Personally, I reached a higher level in the ability to teach — a field in which I am rarely employed, but always proud to be a part of. Overall, this year had its challenges — more so than any year previous. Nonetheless, surpassing those challenges left me a more complete communicator than ever before. From here, I can only grow further. I would like to see myself continuing this trend of reading incessantly. I would also like to further my growth in poetry — an area which I had never pursued, but am finding myself enjoying. I also foresee myself doing an American Studies research paper — at least now I have practice J .