Finding My Voice Again: My Journey Through English 1101

Multimodal Narrative Essay- Rose Lian H. Murray

First Day Fears

When this semester first started, I logged into English 1101 online with the same nervousness I had carried as a teenager. In my early teens, I once took this exact course and failed it with an F. That memory stayed with me for over ten years. So when I saw “ENC 1101” as part of my prerequisites, I felt like I was reopening a chapter I wasn’t sure I could rewrite.

Writing has never been something I thought I was naturally good at. I’ve always struggled to get my thoughts down on paper, even when I knew what I wanted to say in my mind. On top of that, this time around, I wasn’t just a student; I was a full adult juggling two jobs, responsibilities, bills, and real-life challenges. Trying to balance everything with school felt overwhelming before the semester even began.

But I told myself that if I wanted a different future, especially with nursing school on the horizon, then I needed to rewrite my relationship with writing. I needed to try again.

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Learning to Balance My Life

The first few weeks of the class were the hardest. I was constantly tired from working two jobs and still trying to complete online readings, assignments, and discussion posts on time, not just for English 1101 but also for my other online classes. I felt unsure about how to manage everything. However, this challenge pushed me to confront something I had previously avoided: planning.

I realized I couldn’t succeed in the class unless I created structure in my daily life. So I started reading assignment instructions more carefully, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and giving myself reminders. Slowly, things started to feel less chaotic. I found myself getting better at managing my time in a way I never learned when I was younger.

This was the first moment I realized I was growing not just as a student, but as an adult who now had more discipline, self-awareness, and confidence

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Discovering Creativity Through Our Projects

One of the surprises of this class was how creative some of the assignments allowed me to be. The multimodal project, especially, pushed me to express myself and journey in ways beyond just words. Integrating visuals, blending ideas, and shaping a narrative taught me that writing doesn’t always have to be stiff or intimidating.

Even simple assignments helped me realize something important: I actually could express myself. I had never been guided in a way that supported my learning style before.

Over the years, real life has given me confidence. I’ve handled a range of responsibilities, including bills, health challenges, work stress, and everything in between. Compared to all of that, expressing myself in writing didn't feel so scary anymore. The more I worked through each assignment, the more I felt like I was rebuilding a skill I once believed I lacked.

The Turning Point

There was a point mid-semester where everything finally connected. I remember finishing one of my online assignments and thinking, Wow, this actually sounds like me. Not the teenage version of me who struggled with English, not the unsure adult who began the semester, but the version of myself who has lived, grown, and learned.

The feedback I received online helped me see my own writing in a new way. I wasn’t perfect, but I was improving. Those improvements were real, visible, and meaningful. The moment boosted my confidence more than anything else this semester.

A New Understanding of Myself as a Writer

By the end of the course, I understood something that teenager-me never realized:

I am capable of writing. I can express myself. And I am allowed to grow at my own pace.

Writing isn’t about being perfect; it’s about communicating your thoughts in a way that feels authentic. Once I understood that, the fear that had followed me for ten years faded. I now view writing as a skill I can continue to refine, especially as I transition into a medical career where effective communication is just as important as technical expertise.

[embed]“A Quiet Moment of Reflection.. Realizing how far I’ve come.”

Looking Foward

Now that the semester is coming to a close, I am proud of myself. I showed up. I tried. I improved. I proved to myself that I’m no longer the girl who failed English 1101.

I’m a woman building a future. I’m a student preparing for nursing school. I’m a writer discovering her voice.

The confidence I gained in this class will carry into every essay I write, every patient chart I fill out, and every assignment I complete in the future. This class didn’t just teach me about writing; it taught me about believing in myself again.

English 1101 wasn’t just another class for me. I was given a second chance to do better. This time, I didn’t run from it. I overcame it.

“Crossing the finish line. A reminder of the progress I’ve made this semester in overcoming challenges and gaining confidence as a writer.”