Assignment #1: Academic Success Proposal

Here you will see my final paper submitted. This submission has all of the corrections included. Being allowed to correct my paper not only raised my grade but also helped me really focus on the mistakes I made. I was very proud of this paper. I definitely learned I like to write from a personal perspective. This paper was written in  MLA format. This paper also reflects the writing process I used which was a Three Part Essay. I think the difference in this paper and other essays alike, is that I have two opening paragraphs and then I go on to elaborate on my three points.

Brandi Lambright 

Deana Nall 

Composition 1 

​​25 August 2024​ 

Washing Machine 

         White Hall is a small community outside of Pine Bluff. There are no big buildings to see or farmlands to admire. What you will find are trees, lots of trees, and suburban homes around almost any corner. White Hall is the perfect place to raise a family and get to know the local town gossip on just about anyone. It’s a Stepford feeling, in a way.  

In the early 2000’s my mom filed for a divorce. Being the oldest of three, I was always aware of the struggles my mom was going through to keep us afloat. Even though we struggled hard my mom always made ends meet. We learned to pull the weight for her when things fell short. When the washing machine went down, that was our time to shine. To the local laundry mat is where we went.  

The local laundromat was down a side road off the main strip. It had six parking lots and three bullet holes in the windows. The color scheme was that of cream and burnt orange. If the ‘70s had a color, it would have been our local washing hub. It smelled of fresh linen despite its unbecoming appearance, and the wall-to-wall machines played the most relaxing humming sound. I am sure the bills were paid there with the loads of laundry we brought in.  

When you have a house of four women, the laundry can pile up like Mt. Everest. We would often wait until we were down to our perforated rags before we decided it was time to visit the laundry mat. We would take trash bags and fill them to the brim. It was like bearing the weight of a dead body. Nothing sucked worse than toting up to ten dead weight bags into the facility, only for one to rip open and panties fall all over the parking lot. No matter how hard it was, I had my sisters by my side. There was never a dull moment when the 3 of us were together. 

Perspective is everything. We never saw the laundry mat as a negative. While mom was away working shift work, us girls were cutting up and doing laundry. We would often visit Sonic and spread it out on the folding table like we were at a fancy restaurant. When other patrons would come in to wash their laundry, we would stiffen up and quiet down. No one ever stayed behind like we did. When they would leave, it would not be long before the shenanigans would fire back up. Between trying to see if my little sister fit in the dryer or dancing all around to the music that played over the loudspeaker, time always seemed to fly by. 

It has been many moons since I have had to visit a laundry mat. When I do, it is never accompanied by a negative mind set. I enjoyed it. It may be the smell of fresh linens turning in the designated machines, the infamous loads of laundry completed all at once, or just maybe, it is the internal joys of the fun memories only me and my sisters share. Either way, the White Hall laundry mat will always be a special place for me in my hometown.