Beggs 1

Kyle Beggs

Leslie Wolcott ENC 1102 23 January 2013 Literacy Narrative Literacy is a vital tool for success, at least for my definition of the word. It is a tool that you could not survive in this cruel world without. When I think of literacy, I dont think about that great book series that everybody is talking about or writing some beautiful poem for my girlfriend. I think of writing e-mails and reading textbooks. I was never, and most likely will continue not to be an avid reader of anything but technical related articles and books. This is mainly just because I am using it as a source of information but, reading is reading, right? My journey has not been too challenging thus far. Having many sponsors and materials at my disposal has helped and are helping me navigate my way to literacy and influencing my direction at the same time. There are many factors that go into the creation and destiny of somebodys literacy and many times their stories are completely unique to themselves, usually starting from a very young age. My mother started reading to me before I could even sit up on my own power. She had the idea that the sooner I started hearing words and sentences, the sooner I would pick up on it. By the time I was 18 months old, she had already enrolled me at La Petite Academy (preschool/daycare). Not only did they care for me, but also started teaching me to read and write

Beggs 2 while further developing my motor skills. After I acquired enough talent to start recognizing words, my mom started making me read back all the books she read to me as toddler. By the time I was 2 years old, I had 2 literary sponsors and tons of material available to me. The accessibility of these resources to me at such an early age put me on the fast track to literacy. Sponsors dont guide you because they tell you what to do, but because they generally have an influence over your personal interests and goals; especially when that sponsor happens to be a parent. My fathers love of technology has fostered my interest in such topics. A sponsor does not have to be directly involved in your acquisition of literacy. By them simply exposing you to certain objects, it can spark an interest that will define a big part of you and your quest for literacy growing up. Although some people may think they have chosen their own destiny, or in this case their paths to literacy based solely on their personal interests and goals (even though it was most likely inspired by a sponsor at some point), sponsors can also have a direct influence on which road you take and where you end up (Brandt 168). My mother, one of my first sponsors, mainly focused on my reading skills. I never did much writing at home. Could there be a connection there with my development of superb reading comprehension skills and lackluster composition abilities? Although I did receive writing instruction at the academy and when I started elementary school, these places never seem to have an impact on you like your own flesh and blood, especially at such an early age. As I grew older and advanced through elementary school, I started to wander off the general highways and onto the smaller, more directed avenues. A huge reason for taking the exit off the highway besides my general interests was my entrance into the gifted program. I could not tell at the time, but the

Beggs 3 program was geared towards math and science. The only reading and writing we would do is from textbooks and reports, respectively. I still had English class, but it did not seem we spent much time nor effort here. And lets not forget the dreaded training for the FCAT (although I am sure this may have actually hindered my abilities). At least for me, all of my main sponsors have been the signs on the road, directing me where to go. As time goes by you gain new sponsors and materials, yet lose others at the same time. When I entered college last fall, my new found sponsors and materials have only propelled me in the same direction I have been heading all along. Literacy for me is being able to communicate efficiently in the working world. Literacy is anything you have to do to survive. Literacy isnt just reading, writing, and comprehending; it is knowing how to respond in certain situations and work with people to reach a goal, whether it be common or personal. Growing up in a technologically advanced world has nurtured me into a technologically advanced person. A person whose pursuit of literacy can best be described as animalistic obtaining certain basic skills needed for survival, while honing others that will land me a spot on top of the food chain.

Beggs 4 Works Cited

Brandt, Deborah. Sponsors of Literacy. College Composition and Communication, Vol. 49, No. 2. (May, 1998), pp. 165-185