Letter of Introduction

Dear Wesley Mathewson,

My name is Omar Rafael and I am part of the Freshmen Composition class that you teach on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM. Before I begin to discuss the pertinent information, I must admit that I’m not particularly fond of assignments of this nature. I think that writing about oneself is difficult as it suggests to me that whatever is discussed has been set in stone. Putting aside that personal thought though, here is what I’ve come up with.

I am of Mexican descent and I am the eldest of four. I know both English and Spanish equally, or at least I would like to think so. Being the oldest has its perks but you also have a lot more responsibility. If all else goes wrong, more than anything, I want to make sure that I set a good example for my siblings. 

I am currently an incoming freshman at CCNY enrolled in the Grove School for Engineering. I plan to work towards eventually becoming a practicing civil engineer. My passion for engineering sprouted at a young age. I remember always wondering how it was exactly that bridges, tunnels, and other large structures worked. They simply amazed me and I could not fathom how they were constructed nor how someone had thought of them. As I grew up, I always made sure to venture out and explore other academic possibilities. I was avidly involved in athletic and academic teams while in High School that had no correlation whatsoever with the engineering field. I can even say that at some point, after having much success in the Moot Court and Mock Trial teams, that I considered pursuing a law degree. However, even after all this, engineering still seemed to be my vocation. Now that I have been given an opportunity to accomplish this goal, I plan to make the most of it.

When I have time to myself there are a couple of things that you might find me doing. I enjoy reading, running, watching movies, and simply listening to music. My love for running started about three years ago. I find this sport intriguing as it is truly a mental sport. You have to fight that little voice in you head when it tells you to stop, especially when you are covering a couple of miles in a run. Reading has always been one of my favorite things to do. I remember always going to the public libraries during the summer vacation back when I was in elementary school. As I climbed the educational system, I slowly began to read less and less for pleasure and more and more because it was assigned. This past year however, I have started to find time to squeeze in a couple of books that I actually wanted to read. The most notable titles I’ve recently read are The Five People You Meet in Heaven and Tuesdays With Morrie both by Mitch Albom. I enjoy books of this sort, books that force you to reflect on life. I like to watch movies too. Although I lean towards action movies, I will watch anything as long as its good. My latest favorite movie is definitely The Dark Knight Rises. In terms of my love for music, I listen to a bit of everything but I am fond of jazz and classic rock.

My relationship with writing has always been one characterized by ambivalence. There are times where writing comes naturally, but there are also times where it can be hard to get words on paper. I think that the more one writes, the more comfortable that they become with it. From this course I simply expect to become a stronger writer. I look forward to learning more about the art of writing. 

                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                         Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                                             Omar Rafael