This was when I began to include quotes chosen from the text, however, I did not necessarily interact with the quotes much. This is definitely an improvement compared to my last writing practice. I took my time choosing quotes I could use in order to explain Coates' point of view and relate his views to my own. Instead of evaluating Coates' quotes, however, I just let them be and did not explain what it necessarily meant.

While attending Howard University, Coates was surrounded by black people who he considered family since he could relate to their similar struggles; while I do not necessarily have a connection to everyone on campus, we are all linked together by our desire to fulfill our pursuit of knowledge. Coates describes “seeing his black self in endless variations” (40) when walking through the Yard. I can relate this to my everyday act of walking through Aldrich Park. I may not see myself in everyone I pass, but I do know that we are all here for the same reason- to learn and gain experience in order to make our own personal dreams a reality. Coates explained that the “vastness of black people” could be experienced by just “walking 20 minutes across campus” (41) much like how I could meet people from many different countries, not just my own, simply by walking across campus. Coates further explains that he meets “people from different places”, but they all “hail from the same tribe” (42). I do not feel like I am related to everyone I meet on campus, but I do feel connected by the fact that we belong to the same university whose graduates are willing and able to change the world.