Page 404 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Process Essay 1

This essay describes a process of self-discovery as the writer

confronts a learning disability.

Discovering My Abilities

On my report cards, my teachers used to write, “Erica

doesn’t apply herself” or “Erica lacks motivation.” When I

decided to go to college, I thought I had the motivation

I needed. But I still had trouble finishing what I started,
and I always felt frustrated, disorganized, and ten steps

behind the rest of the class. In desperation, I visited the

college’s counseling center and began a process of self-

discovery that turned my life around.

My journey to self-discovery began the day I walked into

the counseling center. I came in shyly, just planning to

pick up a few brochures. But the counselor, Dr.

Fordham, invited me into her office and asked me about

my study problems. I told her that I would start writing an
essay and find myself playing Solitaire on the computer.

I would get most of the work done on a term paper, and

then resistance would set in and I would find excuses

not to finish. I habitually lost assignment sheets, syllabi,

and library books. I was my own worst enemy. After we
had talked a bit longer, Dr. Fordham said that some of

the habits I mentioned could be symptoms of attention

deficit disorder, or ADD. I told her I did not have a