Samantha Ollerton

Professor Helquist
English 2100
April 30th, 2019
Reflection Essay
As the end of the semester nears, I look back on my achievements so far this year, and
find that I have done much in the way of personal growth from this class alone. All education is
important, but when I began this class I had little notion of what to expect from my technical
writing abilities, and now I’ve come out of it with an outline of my business, a professional
resume to highlight my achievements, a instructional guide for my new students, materials that I
have made for myself to improve my work life, and the skills to repeat and improve upon these
creations should I need anything of the like in the near or far future. I’ve made the first steps to
better understanding graphic design and image management, and I have an inside look on what it
takes to construct professional proposals, create aesthetically appropriate letters and
documentation, and to format memos and similar constructive forms of writing and
communication with the appropriate jargon and aesthetic.
The importance of these skills can not be overrated in this day and age, or likely any day
and age, as business and ethical communication within the workplace, and between people of
unfamiliar or distant relations through various forms of media in educational and informational
ways is so important to the day to day movement of the increasingly modern day. Clear
communication on all fronts is more important than ever, especially considering the ever rising
flux of internet activity and online communication that dominates much of the worlds lifestyle.
But as important, or possibly more so than clear communication, is ethical integrity, both in the
information that is presented, and the accessibility of the information. I may have assumed the
importance of honesty and ethical integrity in providing accurate and intellectually honest
material, but I did not realize how important accessibility is when it comes to the internet and it’s
rising nature of importance. I am an able bodied person with no, deafness or blindness, color or
otherwise, nor any other disability, and hadn’t considered how many people have these existing
conditions, yet still need to use the internet as regularly as anyone else. I am glad I learned the
many possibilities to make adjustments to the various forms of technical communication
necessary to make the information being provided accessible to the most individuals possible, for
if this were not done, so many people would be left out of information that is either a necessity in
their lives, or possibly just for the betterment of their enjoying of it.
To conclude, the lessons and skills I have worked through in this course have improved
my life, without a doubt. I have more ability than ever to communicate my professional self, and
even have understanding now of the tools and general information available that could help me
continue to grow in the various necessary forms of technical communication that I am sure I will,
at some point or another, come across for the rest of my life, and be ready and able to manage.