One of the things I find particularly interesting is that a learning program can teach you a lot about yourself. When I first started the writing project, I didn’t expect to find out so much about how I write beyond the subject I was exploring. From analyzing rhetoric to creating personal stories, I have the ability to think critically, be creative, and go beyond what I think I’m capable of. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.

1. I learned the power of humor and insight in reading No Canada

Humor has always been an important part of my personality. This is my response in embarrassing situations, and it often comes out in my writing. When I saw the “No Canada” article, I realized that humor can be a good balance between satire and serious writing. I think humor isn’t just a way to mask my point of view, it can also help me to say things on a deeper level.

In reflecting on the article, I saw that the author used humor to explore the connection between Canadian identity and the “O Canada” national anthem. It’s a fine line to make sure the humor doesn’t undermine my point, but actually helps highlight it. Intentionally funny can also bring depth to academic writing (if you push the boundaries of your mind without losing the message you’re trying to convey, rather than showing how funny you are in every situation). This reading and feedback experience taught me that my voice in writing doesn’t have to choose between serious or funny; I can combine the two to approach complex topics in a way that comes naturally to me.

2. Stereotypes in All Quiet on the Northern Front

Reading All Quiet on the Northern Front made me understand how hard it is to write funny stereotypes without falling into their trap. Josh Freed explores stereotypes of Canadians as “boring” and “conservative” through his satirical style essays. Stereotypes aren’t just lazy generalizations; they reflect cultural differences. In analyzing Freed’s essay, I found myself thinking about how these cultural differences can be reduced to simple, one-dimensional ideas. The humor in his works is not only meant to be funny, but also to make people sad (?), Canadians really are not “not funny”. For example, comedian John Candy and The naked gun Leslie Nielsen are also Canadian. However, I do agree with the author that writing can explore cultural complexities without oversimplifying or judging them.

3. Zettelkasten check: Organize ideas purposefully

To be honest, I didn’t think I’d like the writing note taking system so much before. But how valuable the organization is to my work. It’s not just jotting notes; It’s about building a personal knowledge base that makes my writing more purposeful and connected. Tackle complex topics systematically by breaking down my thoughts about a variety of things into smaller, interconnected notes. Instead of just shoving a bunch of facts into notes, I connected my thoughts and constructed a clear, persuasive narrative. The process of writing: research, organization, reflection, editing is just as important as the final product. The Zettelkasten system allows me to explore problems from multiple perspectives, and I think everyone should have one.

4. Personal style in Who I Am – Six Stories

When I embarked on the Who I Am – Six Stories project, I explored my identity through humor, reflection, and creativity. It’s a chance to write something really personal. But it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. As I write each story, highlight different parts of myself, such as being a student at school, mom and dad’s daughter, my sister’s sister, etc. I reflect on how these characters have shaped my perspective on life. Writing about moments from my childhood made me realize how a relaxed mindset and optimism played an important role in my interactions with the world. What’s the point? Writing these stories is not just about narrating events, but finding the deeper meaning behind them. What did I learn from those experiences? How did my childhood shape who I am now? These are not easy questions, but these stories become honest reflections on what I have written. It taught me to embrace myself and realize that even the smallest moments reveal a lot about our character.

5. Writing in Action: My voice

Looking back on everything I’ve done so far, one thing that stands out is that I’ve been finding with my writing voice. Whether it’s through humor, structured analysis, or personal stories, I’ve learned how to inject my personality into my work. Writing isn’t just about putting ideas on paper, it’s about how those ideas connect with others and create meaning. This project has been a journey to discover my true writing voice, finding a balance between various styles. As I continue to grow as a writer, I’m excited to see how my voice will evolve. This is just the beginning of my journey. I can’t wait to see where this newly discovered voice takes me next

If you wan to check out my writing (with my teacher’s feedback):