Acknowledgments

AP English Language and Composition. Wow, what a class! It’s taught me that it’s okay to use first person in some essays. Wait, no. It might’ve taught me way more than that. AP Lang is like a labyrinth of mirrors reflecting the infinite dimensions of human expression, guiding my peers and I to navigate the interplay of language and thought. (That may or may not have been too formal).

Let’s begin with acknowledging my wonderful teacher, Mrs. Valentino of course! She might get mad at me if I don’t, just kidding (please don’t take points off for this). Thanks to you, I’ve gotten way more confident in expressing my opinions. Thank you for helping me realize that it’s okay to take up space and stand up for what you believe in. I definitely feel like you’ve strengthened a lot more than just my writing and reading skills! 

Next, to the wonderful and weirdly… interesting pieces that are the literal reason that I have any sense of personal style in my essays, my blogs! The first couple where I solely made comparisons of book characters and movie characters to the characters we read about in class. Well, that didn’t last very long… but when I did get praised for those blogs, I learned to integrate different levels of formality and lots of style into my writing. Then, the assigned blogs where we had requirements about what to write. I thought those were quite boring but sometimes I would make revelations of abstract concepts that I didn’t even know I had the ability to make and honestly, it’s helped me build more character in my personality. While I hated remembering that I had a blog due at 3:30pm every Sunday, blogs really expanded the author’s craft techniques (fancy word!) that I use in my writing.

Those dear to my heart are the pieces we’ve read as a class throughout the year and the times I FINALLY got to discuss social issues that have been troubling me for the past days, months, maybe even years. Maus and how the situation almost mimics what’s happening in Palestine right now. Sweat and how underprivileged communities are stuck in a generational cycle of barely making ends meet. Our Barbies Ourselves and how even Barbies are subject to harsh beauty standards, so you can only imagine the ones real women are subject to. There are many more that I have lost track of, but all the ones where I saw renowned authors agreeing with me on subjects that are often deemed too “controversial.” They did a good job of establishing their ethos there (the only time I’m gonna use that word in a piece of writing.)

Now, the pinnacle of this class, the “turn-and-talks.” Those in seats adjacent to me and my pod mates. Absolutely adored “yapping” and analyzing the symbolism in the pages of Sweat with Ana Sofia, Olivia, David He, Tyler, and Edison (long list!). That was quite a funny table. Even more so, all the other table mates I’ve had throughout the year that kept changing. Listening to everyone really opened my eyes on new perspectives, especially on different cultures I’m not familiar with (Looking at you Linsey! I learned so much about Chinese culture sitting next to you). Turning and talking always has been my favorite, rather than doing random assignments (that I may or may not have heard other AP Lang students with different teachers complaining about). I’ve always been expressive about my views and it’s almost like these turn-and-talks have positively reinforced my opinionated nature.

My mom, for listening to my after school debrief about class every time we’ve had a seminar. My dad, my brother, my friends in other classes, my friends at lunch, and especially my friends in AP Chemistry for listening to me talk the entire hour about why our capitalistic society only benefits the rich and how Mrs. Valentino has only confirmed my beliefs. 

Those little textbooks pieces and the little units we’ve had. I never thought I’d read about a “phallic” Barbie in AP Lang but… here we are. Satire, language, gender, food etc. Surprisingly, they’ve helped me see the double meanings in everyday English. I feel like I can see beyond the surface of English now. Oh, and that one piece, “Consider the Lobster,” that was definitely a sight to see. 

Honestly, I came into this class expecting a mountain load of work, which I did see sometimes, and absolutely nothing but questioning why I took the class, but I really didn’t. I almost think I see myself in a different light now. Finally, can I analyze characteristics of my personality with new and cool rhetorical choices! (I hope you laughed at this one, Mrs.Valentino.) But really, AP Lang has been one of my favorite classes this year. And, beyond acknowledging everyone and everything that has benefited me in this class I’d like to acknowledge myself a little bit. Not to be cocky, but I’m just glad that I had the braveness to take this class, to actually talk and write about what I see in the world around me (mostly problems), and to somewhat become a different person altogether. By the way, I showed this piece to my parents, and they responded with, “Wow, those in-class essays have definitely changed your writing.”