Teneisha Johnson
Ironically, as an individual who loves to write, my first writing assignment loomed over me like a giant Goliath.
What was I going to write about?
Who would I write about?
Did I understand the narrative format and know how to apply the techniques?
All of these questions scrolled through my mind like an unending teleprompter as I sat down to strategically conquer my first writing assignment.
What followed was as painful as it was inevitable.
The pressure to perform, to exceed expectations, to prove to myself that I had what it takes was intense!
The pulsating adrenaline ravishing my body was a sure sign of my nervousness.
My almond shaped brown eyes were stubbornly fixed on the neon glow of the clock.
In the stillness of the room, the sound was magnified by ten.!
I watched as the numbers steadily climbed.
Time showed me no mercy. I needed to gather my scattered thoughts. I needed to focus!
There were certain parameters for writing which I had to adhere to.
It was essential that I ensured there was an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
However, it was also extremely important that I told a story.
My teacher many years ago, would repeatedly cement those points into our lessons, and as my mind reflected on her image, gliding from corner to corner in our packed classroom, I now appreciate her knowledge and experience
Her gift to us was given sincerely and she shared it with love.
Pouring into our hearts and minds, feeling our empty vessels with the gift of education.
She had a unique way of encouraging us and was always fully engaged in her lessons.
I could only hope that as I now sat to write this narrative essay, my structure would be correct and I would bring her honor with the knowledge she had so graciously bestowed on me.
I also recently learnt that the Jamaica National Heroes dared to challenge the institution of colonialism and in so doing changed the course of Jamaica’s history giving social and political freedom to its people.
Today, the statues of Jamaica’s seven National Heroes stand in proud acknowledgment, in the National Heroes Park in Kingston where they are viewed with inspiring pride, unforgettable symbols of Jamaica’s enduring strength.
One of their heroes was a man by the name of Paul Bogle.
An hour later and I was still contemplating my topic, trying to find something stimulating to write about.
Hhmm…. who would have thought it would be so difficult!
Truly, this proved to be the most difficult step.
My sweaty fingers griped my fluorescent yellow pencil tight as I wrote and rewrote my first sentence.
Trying to get into the flow, seeking some inspiration from within.
Each line in my black and white composition book seemed narrow and insufficient.
Beads of sweat crowned my forehead.
The soft, rich yellow recliner held my body a prisoner as I meditated on the task at hand.
Perhaps I could write about human rights and the advancement of the Caymanian people to educate their children, or maybe Jamaica’s National Heroes.
I occasionally transformed into an irritated blue iguana whenever my family interrupted my flow.
They seemed oblivious to my need for space and total mental focus.
Any unwanted sounds at that time could wreak havoc on my fragile strand of concentration.
I was determined to persevere. I could not compose my essay without a topic.
Unlike the topic, the exploration of the essay’s body was much easier.
By the third hour, this stage seemed to flow with relative ease and my pencil accelerated in speed as it sprinted from line to line. Champion!!!
Even my feet began tapping to an unknown beat.
My recently tensed shoulders relaxed and my once clammy fingers were now comfortably in control of my pencil.
I began to write on the topics I mentioned previously.
Caymanian history states that in 1912, some 335 Caymanian parents campaigned for enhanced rights to education for their children.
Following a seven-year battle, the Education Law of 1920, which provided for free compulsory education for all children between 7 and 14 years of age was finally passed.
This helped to pave the way for the future generations to come.
PAUL BOGLE
Paul Bogle, a Baptist Deacon was generally regarded as a peaceful man who shunned violence. He believed in the teachings of the Bible, endorsing the principles of charity and endurance.
Yet he was also a leader and organizer who knew well the terrains of the land and had spent time in educating and training his followers. He lived in St. Thomas and led the Morant Bay Rebellion in 1865. Cool!
Then another was George William Gordon :
GEORGE WILLIAM GORDON
George William Gordon was a free colored land owner and an associate of Bogle.
As a member of the House of Parliament, he used his position to highlight the sufferings of the people and to make a plea for changes.
The Morant Bay Rebellion and the resultant deaths of Bogle and Gordon precipitated the beginning of a new era in Jamaica’s development.
The British government became compelled to make changes including outstanding reforms in education, health, local government, banking and infrastructure.
Read more: http://jamaicans.com/jamaica-national-heroes/#ixzz4wYfjB1dc
With all those interesting facts I was able to keep up my steady pace and was relieved when I reached safely to my conclusion.
I had reached the finished line.
The battle was over, but had I won the war?
I have always been known for expressing my emotions through my writing.
My emotions while writing this essay was enough of an experience worth sharing with my readers.
I needed them to partner with me as I fought and hopefully overcame my Goliath.
In this short narrative essay, I hope to have captured my audience’s attention.
I hope they felt what I felt, understood my self-inflicted pressures and received from my story, techniques on narrative writing.
