Writing Over the Years

Lessons I have learned about writing over the years:

1st grade:  Writing is about keeping in the dotted lines and space allotted to you.
2nd grade: Get on that fragment. Does it include a color: check An animal: check+
3rd grade: Sentences are more about spelling words correctly.
4rth grade: You better be able to listen and write at the same time. Spelling, space, and legibility
5th grade: Did we write?  I think this time was more about math and science...
6th grade: Alright, now its time to write reports about history.  Tie all those skills together.
7th grade:  Feeling like an emotional mess? Write about it via this seemingly uninteresting picture prompt.  Your writing is timed now.
8th grade: Middle school emotions blurted out onto that page. You feel like an outcast? Well, writing is your only escape.
9th grade: Your writing from middle school scared your teachers. Let's write about your summer reading now. Poke at the profound and fail.
10th grade: You think you can write a thesis? Ha, kill yourself with those two pages of detail on an act of historical importance that is culturally insensitive.
11th grade: Okay, we need you to write well enough to get out of high school. Use transitions.  Leave the emotion and adopt structure.
12th grade: You can write better than your teachers now. The red marks are suggections on where to put commas. No one ever taught me how to use punctuation correctly other than periods and exclamation marks, damnit.

College:
Freshman: Why doesn't anyone appreciate my prose?  I am bleeding beautifully on this page for you to read?!?!!?
Sophmore: WTF?!? HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO WRITE IN COLLEGE?
Junior: Got this, my thesis and topic sentences are all that matter. Make a point and move on. Rollin' in the good.
Senior: I now realize that I spent years learning obscure vocabulary and flowery adjectives only to have to limit myself to using them when they only fit perfectly? Wow, my writing seems dry now, but it is more concise and such a solid argument.

Work Life: Pick your words carefully. Only use words that you can back up with your work.  Writing is like encasing yourself against any line of fire. Only say what is real and truthful, and you will shine.

What a perfect projection to law school.