AsIsatnervouslyatmydesk,fidgetingwithmypencilandnotebook,Icouldnthelpbutfeelasurgeofexcitementmixedwithanxiety.ThiswasmyfirsttryatwritingapieceinEnglish,alanguagethatIhadbeenstudyingdiligentlyforthepastfewyears.IhadalwaysbeenfascinatedbythebeautyandexpressivenessoftheEnglishlanguage,andnow,Iwasfinallygoingtoputmyskillstothetest.
Mymindracedwithideasandwords,butasIlookeddownattheblankpageinfrontofme,Icouldntseemtofindtherightwaytostart.ShouldIbeginwithaquote,aquestion,oraboldstatementShouldIdiverightintoastoryorprovidesomebackgroundinformationfirstThesequestionsswirledaroundinmyhead,makingmefeelevenmoreuncertainabouthowtoproceed.
Takingadeepbreath,Iclosedmyeyesandtriedtoclearmymind.Iremindedmyselfthatthiswasjustmyfirsttry,andthatitwasokaytomakemistakes.Afterall,practicemakesperfect,rightWithreneweddetermination,Ipickedupmypencilandbegantowrite.
Atfirst,thewordscameslowly.Istumbledovergrammarandsyntax,unsureofwhetherIwasusingtherightwordsorconstructingmysentencescorrectly.ButasIcontinuedtowrite,somethingclicked.Itwasasifaswitchhadbeenflippedinmybrain,andsuddenly,thewordsflowedeffortlesslyfrommymindtomypen.
IwroteaboutmylovefortheEnglishlanguage,abouthowithadopenedupnewworldsandopportunitiesforme.IwroteaboutthechallengesIhadfacedinlearninganewlanguage,andthesenseofaccomplishmentthatcamewitheachsmallvictory.Iwroteaboutmydreamsandaspirations,andabouthowIhopedtoonedaybecomeafluentandconfidentEnglishspeaker.
WhenIfinallyputdownmypenandreadoverwhatIhadwritten,Ifeltasenseofprideandsatisfactionwashoverme.Yes,therewerestillmistakesandareasforimprovement,