Dear Reader Letter...

My name is Carijo Murphy. I was the first in my family to graduate from high school. In 2004, I received my high school diploma from the Snohomish High School. I am the first in my family to go to college and I am determined to be the first in my family to graduate college. In 2005, I attended the International Academy of Design And Technology for my Associates Degree in Interior Design. Halfway through my schooling I decided that Interior Design wasn’t for me. I liked decorating, rearranging and shopping, but I had to think about my future. I wanted a job that I have a lot of passion for, and that would bring me long-term employment. I decided to take a few years off from school and really think about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

One of the things I love to do is to help others. I love seeing other people happy and I know at the end of the day that I did my job. In 2003, when I worked with people, I was volunteering at Mary Haven Nursing Home in Snohomish. I would go around to each of the rooms and do activities with the patients like reading, playing bingo, making crafts, taking them for walks outside and listening to their stories about their pasts. I really got to know who they were. That experience has helped me figure out what I want to do for a career in my future. I want to work in the medical field and help people, so I decided to go back to school for Medical Assisting. I am currently a full time student at Everett Community College. I am happily married and I have a 12 month old at home who keeps me on my feet.

My dislikes about writing would be the grammar. You never seem to worry about it unless you’re taking an English class to improve your writing skills. What I like about writing is that I get to express myself; whether it is in my Journals, my essays, my work, or even a letter that I am writing to a specific someone. Writing can be a stress reliever for some people. When I first started my English 97 class, I could barely write two sentences. Now I can write three pages and feel comfortable with writing. I am very happy I have the chance to take this class and improve on my grammar and punctuation. I hope that anybody else who takes this class gets as much help as I have.

My strengths are my ability to turn my homework in on time, writing more than a page, and getting to class on time. My weaknesses in writing are writing to little, my grammar and not using enough detail. I have learned how to write more and express myself, as well as to use grammar correctly.

The pieces that I have chosen are a few pieces that have grown with me through the writing process; and have expanded through length, detail and grammar. I am happy to have you read these pieces and I hope you enjoy. They include the following:

1.) Journal: First?
2.) Major Writing Assignment 2: One Of The Biggest Days Of My Life
3.) Journal 2: Getting an education means to me.
4.) Major Writing Assignment 3: Kids Party Planner
5.) Ch. 17 #5: Book Assignment-Joining independent clause and dependent clause.

I think that my writing has improved and I am definitely starting to enjoy writing. I chose each one of these pieces either because they have been through the writing process; they are pieces of special times in my life or have been book assignments. I hope you enjoy reading each one.

Enjoy.