abigailblog

Reading Nicholas Lima’s “That Good Haircut Feeling,” I was most intrigued by the sections that compared Michael’s barber shop to the one Nicholas frequents in Deer Park, Ohio. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between the mundane practice of getting a haircut and the profound culture-bridging interaction with Michael. One technique the author used to capture audiences was to incorporate dialogue. This choice provided an intimate view of the experience and makes readers invested in the experiences of characters. Integrating dialog between Michael and Nicholas during the haircut grabbed my focus and made me more receptive to the last third of the work, which explored how this one simple haircut forced the protagonist to audit his motivations, desires, and outlook. Writing this piece was an act of self-discovery for the author. Nicholas uncovered the importance of having a strong sense of purpose to underpin one’s ambitions. This meaning is what enables a person to be resilient in the face of hardship. Reading this essay, I discovered the power of seemingly minute moments. It is a lovely reminder to remain open to what each moment has to offer.

While this piece recounted a darling moment and genuine life lessons, I found the work a bit clunky. It read more as a diary entry than a finished work. At times, an unpolished and imperfect tone can cultivate a sense of vulnerability between writer and reader, but in this case the writing took me out of the piece and dumped me back into the real world.

• Write
• Run
• Cry when you need to
• See one new thing every day
• Start a book
• Pick out new shoes
• Try new foods
• Talk to strangers
• Feel every feeling; they exist for a reason
• Practice Gratitude

Script:

Hi, my name is Abigail Mullin. My hometown is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and this semester I am taking English 1101, Travel and the Personal Essay, with Dr. Lux. My major is Materials Science and Engineering, and I plan to pursue a concentration in biomaterials. An element of WOVEN communication that I could certainly improve upon is the nonverbal component. Presenting in front of others evokes my anxiety long before I am in front of an audience. This worry about how I am being perceived manifests in trivial ways such as indecision about how to style my hair, what outfit to wear, and what shade of nail polish might make the best impression, but it also has more profound effects on my nonverbal presenting confidence. At times, I can feel my hands quiver uncontrollably, or I might feel a bit queasy. These sensations bring me out of the moment and prevent me from allocating focus to important presentation skills like eye contact, relevant gestures, proper posture, and using an engaging tone of voice. During high school, I particularly struggled when presenting at all school assemblies. These presentations all pertained to topics I was passionate about, but my anxiety severely diminished my enjoyment of the experiences and ability to meaningfully connect to my audience. One way I have strategized to overcome this challenge is to practice in front of small groups of people I know well. Their friendly faces should provoke less anxiety, which will enable me to intentionally practice my nonverbal communication skills. I have faith in this plan because during class presentations, where I felt extremely comfortable with the instructor and group of my peers, I felt more grounded and able to confidently and effectively present my ideas.