I have always had a tough time writing essays. I enjoy writing, but when it comes to writing essays, I struggle. There are many factors that make it a challenge for me. However, there was an essay that was my most difficult one to complete yet. It all took place in seventh grade when my teacher assigned me a seemingly simple essay. I thought it would be a clean and smooth one just like in 6th grade. I was wrong. This is the story of my challenge with my 7nth grade essay, and how I overcame it with some help of my sister.

  The refreshing and breezy wind carried  whispers of aspirations and dreams of students in the school. The sunlight from the sun cast out and enveloped everyone in its warmth. Students from my classroom were chatting away with each other in a chaotic and sloppy line waiting outside for our teacher to let us in. Once the teacher went outside, the line became as straight and upright like an arrow. Slowly, one by one, he let us inside the protection of the classroom. As soon as we were all seated, he began teaching us the usual things. After some minutes had ticked by, he broke the news. 

 " Class, we are going to be writing a argumentative essay.",

our teacher announced. Grunts and groans could be heard all  throughout the classroom. I, however, wasn't worried. I was thinking it was going to be like those fun and simple essays that we got to write in sixth grade. The class continued to pay attention as the teacher continued to explain what we had to do and the basic procedure when going about that type of essay. Some whispered and giggled, while other students did their best to make each other laugh. However one thing made he said made me freeze.

" Do not start your introduction paragraph with a question. that is for elementary kids. You can start it off with a fact that supports your claim, a anecdote, or a sentence that catches the reader's attention"

 Here is the problem. I had always started my essays with a question. It was an easy way to grab a reader's attention and it was what they had told my my whole life until then. That is how it had always been. I looked around the classroom and saw students agreeing and some of them saying,

" Oh yeah, that is what our teacher taught us too."

 None of them looked concerned or worried at all. But, my teacher had never taught me that. When I got home, I stood an eternity just trying to figure out how to start the whole thing.It was like a puzzle I couldn't solve. I thought long and hard on what to say. I would write something but would later be dissatisfied with it and erase it. I finally settled on using quote. Ever since then I have had a hard time figuring out what to say to start my essay. That was only my first issue I had with writing that essay.

 The other issue I had was that I didn't know what to put for my last body paragraph. I choose to write the argumentative essay about an unpopular opinion.  However, I couldn't find another reason for my third paragraph. The information that was given to me only had two pros and 3 cons. I had already used up the two cons on my first and last body paragraph. I couldn't figure out what to write for the last big body paragraph.  I took another long time to think about what to write.  Whenever I would try to think of something, my mind would go barran like a blank piece of paper. The only thing that was there was the frustrating fever of thinking too hard for too long and the constant pressure that I had to at least finish the rough draft for that day. I reluctantly settled on a small reason for my third body paragraph. The idea really didn't support my opinion as much as I would have liked, nevertheless it is was the only thing that I could think of at that moment. That was the other issue I had when I wrote that essay.

 The last issue I had was after I had finished my essay. My teacher had instructed us that we had to show our essays to other older, family members, or friends to check that it was good. I chose to show it to my older sister, Yareth. As soon as she started reading it, a frown washed over her face. 

" What's wrong with it?" I asked worriedly.

" Nothing it's just that you used the word 'I' here." she said casually.

" What do you mean? It is an essay. Of course it is I." I asked confused.

My sister then looked at me like if I were a strange alien from another planet.

" It's supposed to be an argumentative essay, isn't it?" she asked.

" Yes it is."  I answered slowly.

" Then that means you can't use words like 'I, me, we, and us,' You can't mention yourself in it. That is a rule when writing argumentative essays. Didn't they tell you that in sixth grade?" she said.

" No, they never told me anything about that..." I sighed. 

 I had littered my essay with those exact words. I now had to rewrite my whole essay and take out all the sentences that had the words 'I, we, me, myself, and us' in it. On multiple occasions, I remember struggling on what to write without putting pronouns that mention me. I would become really frustrated and be unable to move on at times. I would have to take chunks out because I would just be talking about my opinion. This was the last issue that I had when writing this essay. When I went to school the next day, the teacher said, 

" Oh and you can't write your essays with words like ' I, me, myself, mine, and we'. That is not allowed in argumentative essays. Only on some, like narrative essays."

I remember my peer next to me simply nodded and said,

" My teacher last year told me that last year." 

 I was stunned. Those lucky children had the opportunity to learn this beforehand. Although, I was just estatic that my essay rough draft was done. 

 This was when I learned how to make a proper essay that broke my old habits. It was not easy, as seen previously. I had many bad habits. I was used to information being handed to me without really having to think hard. I used words in essays that I couldn't use.  As well as  using questions as my starter sentence. Now I don't struggle as much with the second problem, but I do still struggle with starting my essays and thinking of what to write for my third paragraph. What I learned from this experience was not only how to write a good essay, but it was also that by trying hard you can break old habits and learn how to do new things. This was a challenge that I overcame and that I occasionally encounter.