VOICE
My writing is intrinsic of what the author (I) genuinely feel. There isn't a bridge separating the author and the reader; it feels face-to-face.
COMING OF AGE ESSAY
When it comes to writing a personal essay, I believe the voice to be the most important aspect of it. One could have perfect organization, ideas, vocabulary range, but if it's not genuine, and sounds like the author is trying to distance him/herself from readers, it becomes very clear and simply reduces the essay's effectiveness in telling a story to an audience. This personal essay's prompt was about how the author became of age; how they transitioned from adolescence to adulthood. I didn't choose a simple "I touched the stove and I learned it was hot" type of story; I chose one where I truly resonated with, which was about my step-brother (pictured left). I detail a lot of how I felt when it came to finding out that I had a step-brother, and all the immature hatred I had for how he was living an essentially perfect life in the care of my father's money. I got heated when writing this essay, and I channeled that through a voice that the audience can resonate with instead of be confused by. This essay is perhaps the best when it comes to my true voice and writing.
COLLEGE ESSAY
Although this is indeed my sophomore year, Mr. Zavala--my Language Arts teacher--had us select a college or university that we'd like to attend, and find the prompt(s) for the essay that would help us increase our chances in attending said college. I chose UCLA, and one of the prompts they gave us (apparently all the CA colleges combine their prompts) asked to describe how I express my creative side. Being a part of MeneMAC, and being a person so deeply involved with digital media, the answer was clear. I could have easily said those two and be done with the essay, yes, but I'm sure thousands of other people have had the same passions as my own. Thus, my voice had to be integrated somehow, and that's through writing a chronological story about how my passions came to be. "Getting personal" with the audience, in essence. That's what voice is, and this essay, alongside the coming of age essay above, are my best work that captures that very idea.
