While I am conveying the same ideas and thoughts in both descriptions, the difference in narration subsequently affects the respective writings’ structure and tone.

Primarily, in the paragraph where I use first person narration, I am able to bluntly state my feelings, and it is obvious to the reader and grammatically correct that I feel these things and that this is my routine. However, while utilizing third person narration, I had to change the structure of my writing to “Marissa feels..”, and speak about my routine from an outer perspective.

Further, my tones sound different in the two writings. In the first person narration, my routine sounds more concise and informal, while in the third person narration my routine sounds more wordy and formal. In first-person narration I feel more comfortable and open, than when writing in third-person narration. There is essentially a huge difference between each narration’s style.

I feel more natural when I am writing about myself than when I do about someone or myself in the third person. When talking about something that belongs to me or that I experience, such as a routine, I would prefer to use first person narration so I can use concise and detailed words. I think that in third person narration, my words got cluttered and a lot of the words had to be changed to my name, “her” or “she”.

Overall, questioning this aspect of writing while critiquing my own work helps me grow as a writer. These two narrations have different guidelines, and overall convey a different language and tone. The structure plays a huge role in first vs. third person, and this type of writing exercise will help me think about these principles throughout my future writing works.

Now that class has started, Marissa has some sort of a daily routine abroad. She is happy to have finally adjusted after studying in Tel Aviv for almost two months.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, Marissa wakes up for class 9:30 a.m., and she sleeps in on Tuesdays (she have late class), and she have no class on Thursdays. Marissa feels that her class schedule is manageable and she has been enjoying her studies this semester. In particular, Marissa finds her class discussions stimulating and interesting, such as Jewish Gangsters or Media and War.

Everyday, Marissa gets a good lunch with her friends around noon. Marissa likes to take advantage of living in Tel Aviv, and she wants to try as many new restaurants and cuisines as possible. On days where the weather is nice, Marissa and her friends usually eat lunch near or at the beach so they can relax afterwards. However, there has not been many beach days in Tel Aviv yet, so Marissa and her friends have been able to try a lot of new lunch restaurants after class. Goldas, Tal Bagels and Cafe Nola are among Marissa’s favorite restaurants that have good brunch options.

Around 4 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, Marissa has class, but if her schedule is free she usually comes home around this time and relaxes for a little bit. Marissa likes to find time during her days here to relax and wind down, because rest and self-care are essential when every day is fast-paced and packed with classes, meals or going out. Usually, Marissa has been watching television series on her computer, doing some homework or putting on a face mask.

Marissa goes to dinner every night around 7:30 – 8 pm, depending on whether she is going out that night or not. Marissa feels that dinner is so fun in Tel Aviv, because there are so many options and the food is delicious. Some of her favorite restaurants so far have been Goocha, Romano and Rustico. Marissa is looking forward to trying new restaurants this week: she is going to Moon Sushi or Virtrina for hamburgers. For Marissa, dinner is always an activity too, and she finds it fun to find new places to eat with my friends.

Marissa feels comforted knowing that she has a routine, especially while living in a new city overseas. The beginning of class has set Marissa’s routine in stone, and she loves that she now has set times when I have to wake up for the rest of the semester, and then she is free to explore Tel Aviv. Marissa cannot wait for her future adventures in Tel Aviv, whether she is trying new restaurants, relaxing at the beach or going out with her friends.

Now that class has started, I have some sort of a daily routine abroad. I’m happy to have finally adjusted after studying in Tel Aviv for almost two months.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I wake up for class 9:30 a.m., I sleep in on Tuesdays (I have late class) and I have no class on Thursdays. My class schedule is manageable and I have been enjoying my studies this semester. I find the class discussions stimulating and interesting, such as Jewish Gangsters or Media and War.

Everyday, I get a good lunch with my friends around noon. I like to take advantage of living in Tel Aviv, and I want to try as many new restaurants and cuisines as possible. On days where the weather is nice, we usually eat lunch near or at the beach so we can relax afterwards. However, we have not had that many beach days yet, so we have been able to try a lot of new lunch restaurants after class. Goldas, Tal Bagels and Cafe Nola are among my favorite restaurants that have good brunch options.

Around 4 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays I have class, but if my schedule is free I usually come home around this time and relax for a little bit. I like to find time during my days here to relax and wind down, because rest and self-care are essential when every day is fast-paced and packed with classes, meals or going out. Usually I have been watching television series on my computer, doing some homework or putting on a face mask.

I go to dinner every night around 7:30 – 8 pm, depending on whether I am going out that night or not. Dinner is so fun here because there are so many options and the food is delicious. Some of my favorite restaurants so far have been Goocha, Romano and Rustico. I’m looking forward to trying new restaurants this week: Moon Sushi or Virtrina for hamburgers. Dinner is always an activity too, and it is fun to find new places to eat with my friends.

It is comforting to know that I have a routine, especially while living in a new city overseas. The beginning of class has set my routine in stone, and now I have set times when I have to wake up and when I am free to explore the city. I cannot wait for my future adventures in Tel Aviv, whether I am trying new restaurants, relaxing at the beach or going out with my friends.

1. Keret is implying that writers are not connected to God, yet they still communicate important ideas and thoughts to their audiences. Keret also says, “the writer didn’t create it, but he’s here to say what needs to be said”. Keret conveys that writers are human beings who use precise language to convey their experiences and revelations about life. Keret is additionally saying that writers are not superior to their readers. Writers are not sent from God or a prophet standing at the gate: in fact, writers are normal human beings, and they are relatable to their audiences, and he is therefore inspired to write about the truths he has learned.
2. The overall theme of the story is further conveyed in the sentence: “the only kind of writer who can forget is a successful one, the kind who doesn’t write against the stream of his life, but with it, and every insight that flows from the pen not only enhances the text and makes him happy but also delights his agents and his publisher”. “Just Another Sinner” relays how writers are real people, and majority of the time their success is rooted in their failures. Writers need to enjoy the work that they are doing, and the most successful writers write from their heart. Writing is almost like a feeling evoked in certain people, and during these time periods writers are able to write insightful and inspiring works.  
3. Keret learns that “there is a line that separates killing bugs from killing frogs, and no matter how hard it is, that line must never be crossed”. When Keret heard this line from the woman, he learns that writing is embedded into the world, and writers talk about the truth, no matter how gruesome and real they may be. The lesson from the woman transcends into Keret’s life: he is ready to write about the realities he has faced and not be afraid to let all his words out. At the end of the short story, Keret gets out of bed after a croaking frog keeps him awake and begins to write. Evidently, the story goes full-circle. After Keret is inspired from the woman, he finds this inner confidence to write and share his newfound life lessons.
4. This essay inspires me to keep working through the failures and be grateful for my successes. I value working hard, but success is not guaranteed overnight. Keret conveys the importance of patience: it takes time for writers to feel confident and proud of their works. Likewise, I am not always successful in my academic or social environments, yet with these failures come learning lessons for the next time. Keret inspires me to keep writing, even if I don’t know what exactly I want to write about. Writing is like a work of art, and it takes time to perfect and feel comfortable with. This theme aligns with my attitude over the next semester: to keep going, no matter what, and feel inspired at any given moment.

Likewise, to the narrator and author, Etgar Keret, of the short essay, “Shit Happens”, I once had a moment of realization in my own life. After experiencing real-life intern experience at two different companies, I realized what I want to do with my life.

        For some background information, I go to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and I am studying strategic communications in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, and I am additionally pursuing a certificate in digital studies. I am creative and driven, and through my coursework I been able to learn a lot about the marketing industry. However, it has taken me three years to realize my passions and what exactly I want to pursue in the marketing industry.

        My first internship was at BCM One, a tech company. Two summers ago, I was the intern to the Senior Director of Marketing, and although I knew that my personal interests were not align with this company, I still enjoyed experiencing a tight-knit office atmosphere and working in New York City. I had my first working experience under my belt, and I was optimistic to find an internship in the marketing sector, but perhaps at a large marketing firm with many different opportunities. I still did not really know where I could see my career going and which industry to network in.

Next summer comes, and I still can’t find an internship in the right industry for me. I was a Healthcare Intern at Cohn and Wolfe, a public relations firm. This internship was very rigorous: I had a 40-hour work week and assisted two health care accounts. The first account was for a drug called Praluent, which lowers lower cholesterol in patients, and the second account was for Evzio, an opium-overdose drug. My work was very rewarding and cool, because these drugs help save peoples’ lives.

However, I did not want to do healthcare public relations. I could not see myself pursuing a career at a teach company. I am not a science type of girl. I love pop culture and fashion, and in my moments of doubt I finally realized what I wanted to do with my life: retail. In preparation for finding an internship for this upcoming summer, I began to network with people in the retail industry. I want to do some sort of fashion marketing. I love putting myself together, staying on top of trends and picking out my outfits. After a lot of different interviews and stressful back-and-forth emails, I finally landed a summer internship in the Macy’s Merchandising Program.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to gain hands-on experience at one of the largest retailers in the country and finally feel like my work aligns with my passions. I want to work hard and enjoy what I am doing, so it is important to me to work hard to get where I want to be. Looking back, I had my moment of realization following a huge moment of doubt. I learned a lot over the past two summers, but I am so excited to have found a summer internship at the right company, especially after doubting my capabilities to network and interview well.