Hi! My name is Aidan Logan. I graduated from Los Alamos High School in May of 2024, where I was a Hilltopper for four years. I am currently a pre-mechanical engineering student at the University of New Mexico. I have played baseball all my life, and it is a very big part of who I am. In my free time, I also enjoy reading, writing books, and playing volleyball. This semester, in Spring 2025, I attended an English 1120 class taught by Prof. Charles Horace.
I have learned many new things this semester and have expanded on old knowledge. I have learned the many differences that various genres of essays have. This semester, I was tasked with completing 2 major writing assignments(MWAs). The first MWA was a
proposal essay. I was tasked with choosing a subject to argue for or against and proposing possible solutions. I chose to propose a solution for the common disregard for the emotional health of those who carry STDs. Proposing a solution for the blatant disregard helped me learn the ins and outs of proposal essays. I am now confident that I could write a proposal for any subject if tasked to do so. MWA 2 was an expository essay. I was tasked with choosing a new subject and writing an informational essay on it. MWA 1, being an argument, meant that it had some bias. The distinguishing factor of expository essays is the lack of bias. The opposite nature of these two essays helped me examine how I write. Since I decided to choose 2 very different subjects for the two MWAs, I have refined my research techniques and have improved on finding information on a desired subjects. I have also become more comfortable using figurative language and have improved in my usage of punctuation!
Now, how will I implement what I have learned? Though it may not seem like it, both the essays I have completed this semester may play a role in my future job as a mechanical engineer. I may have to write a proposal for a project, the proposal essay has helped me obtain this skill. Having the ability to write a persuasive argument is a very important skill for any ambitious person. And the expository essay will no doubt play a role in my future. Having the ability to explain something without bias is a very important skill. When someone asks for information, it's always best to try and avoid your own bias. After all, they are not asking for your opinion; they're asking for facts. The expository essay has helped me develop this skill, and I do not doubt that I will use it, not only in my future job but throughout the rest of my college life.
Finally, what are my goals in life? My current goal is to complete a degree in mechanical engineering. After this, I would like to work at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. My entire family has worked at LANL, and it is my goal to work there as well. Other than this, I guess my goal would be to have a family of my own someday, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. For now, I am very focused on my degree and future career. Prof. Charles Horace's English 1120 has provided me with skills I will use to achieve all of these goals.