Personal Narrative: My First Spanish Classroom

"¿Cuál es tu apellido?" my Spanish teacher asked me. It was freshman orientation and I had just walked into her classroom, surrounded by a sea of unfamiliar faces. I stared blankly at my teacher, unsure of what she was asking. "What is your last name?" she repeats, this time in English. My faced flamed with embarrassment as I replied. I immediately felt out of place, convinced that I didn't belong in Spanish II. Unfortunately, this feeling did not fade. After my first Spanish class, I was on the verge of tears. My teacher spoke almost entirely in Spanish and so many of the words were unfamiliar to me. I was expected to speak in Spanish, too! I was completely and utterly overwhelmed. When I sat down to do my homework that night, my feelings of frustration grew. The assignments seemed impossible! I dreaded going back to class, where I would drown in confusion once more. As the week went on, I did not grow any fonder of Spanish class. I was discouraged and ready to give up. While sitting in study hall one day, I sent my mom a desperate email, begging her to request that I be moved down to Spanish I. She agreed to contact the school. When I returned home, she relayed her conversation with the Dean of Studies to me; the Dean believed I was capable of remaining in the class, but she
It wasn't always easy, but I discovered that hard work can help you to overcome most any hardship you face. The merits and importance of perseverance also became clear to me; giving up will not get you far- it's surviving the challenges that will help you to grow. While I may have regretted my decision for those first few weeks, I certainly do not now. Because of my Spanish II class, I now have the confidence I need to work through the difficulties life throws at me, whether they be academic or personal. More importantly, I can assuredly answer "Guernsey" when asked "¿Cuál es tú