Why do I write? Why does anyone write? Everybody has a different answer to this seemingly unimportant question. George Chrisiano, an amateur poet, answered this question by writing, "We can get everything down on paper and pretend to be masters of language and art-form." I share my reasons for writing with him. I write to impress my family, to sound smart, and to organize my messy thoughts. Mostly, I am an egotistical writer, and I put pen to paper to impress others.

My first reason for writing is to impress my family. Nobody in my family is a decent writer. My family and I are from Argentina, and I am the first person to go through the American school system. My older sister is an artist, and consequently she is a terrible speller and writer. I feel happiness rush through me when I see my mother's face light...