emily+adler

The assignment of an acrostic poem brought me back to my earlier days in school, but never before had I been asked to explain the words corresponding to each letter of my name. “E” was easy; I chose empathetic because I have always felt that I am usually a kind and caring person. I have been told many times that I am a good listener; I understand the rareness of a truly good listener, and the gratitude one receives from those who need someone to talk to.

For “M,” I chose mature. Not only have I never felt so old (it was my 19th birthday the day this was posted), but I have always been responsible and trustworthy, both traits that cannot come without a certain maturity. Being a teenager, I have been present for many a gossipy conversation, and while I can’t pretend to have never participated in one, lately I have found myself disengaging myself from them…in what I hope is a mature disdain for speaking badly of others. Although I like to go out and have fun, I am the quiet one in my group of friends, and am sometimes the one who has to step in to take control in certain situations.

Next comes “I,” which I represented with intelligence. I do not mean this to be selfish or egotistical; I was having a hard time thinking of other “I” words. And while I would never want to come off as vain, especially in my first assignment, I do think I am fairly intelligent (although glancing at my notebook I just noticed that I spelled intelligence wrong…). Admittance to Alma College generally indicates an above-average GPA and ACT score; and without bragging, I have both of these. I have always done well in school, and have a great love of learning new things and being challenged. My interests span a wide academic range, from History to creative writing to marketing management, and that is one of the reasons I think Alma College will suit me well. I also look forward to many new challenges and accomplishments in English 200!

“L” was another tough one; I finally decided on loyal. I try my best to keep my promises and to be a good friend. Many of my best friends are people I have known for years. I try to always be honest with them and defend them when ever necessary (this relates back to the earlier topic of refraining from gossiping). I have held both of my jobs (one at Cold stone, the other at a restaurant in my hometown) since I was hired, the former for three years, the latter for just over a year. I think this results from my loyalty, hard work, and devotion to each company.

Last, but not least, comes “Y.” Ironically, I chose youthful, which contradicts my “M” word, but I couldn’t think of any other accurate or remotely relevant “Y” adjectives. Technically it is correct; 19 is pretty young in the grand scheme of things. I have a lot of energy, and although I’m not as crazy as some of my friends, I still like to have a good time. So that’s me: empathetic, mature, intelligent, loyal, and youthful. This assignment probed me to take a closer look at myself, and to analyze why those certain words came to my head before any others to describe myself. It turned out to be a kind of confidence booster! I look forward to learning more from the forthcoming assignments in this class.