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Marisol Meza
Professor Adler
STACC- English 100-#70525
October 7, 2015
My Educational Journey
My real educational journey began almost three semesters ago, as a student here at
Pasadena City College. I honestly had no idea that it would take this long to finally have a
direction, but just like Malcom X, one-day and without warning something just awoke inside of
me(Malcom, 640). Malcom X was an African American who was a prominent figure and best
known for being a civil rights activist. In 1946, he was convicted and sentenced to ten years in
prison. It was while incarcerated where he discovered his thirst for literacy and eventually taught
himself how to read and write. I also struggled at a very young age to learn how to read, and just
like one of the students of a journey entry in Freedom Writers I also believed the education
system tends to dismiss kids based on their past and not their potential (Gruwell 147). Learning
how to read became a persistent thirst which I felt deep inside of my core. However, I didnt
know if I had the potential, but I was determined to acquire the skill and ability to unleash the
powering of literacy which screamed inside of me.
I can remember being in the 3rd grade, in Ms. Champions class, almost as if it
was merely yesterday. I was new to the City of El Monte. I had no friends and I hated being the
new kid and worst of all my family had no money to buy me new clothes. I secretly hid the
hole in my sweater and my dirty shoes. As soon as I walked into the classroom, I felt everyone
staring at me. Are they staring at me or my clothes? I felt so embarrassed my hair was a mess and
my socks were wet, because we didnt have a dryer and my mom had forgotten to wash and hang
my socks to dry for me. Just then, the teacher handed me a reading and math test. Of course
being in the 3rd grade, it meant a multiplication and a reading comprehension placement test.

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Little did Ms. Champion realize, these basic tests were going to forever rob us both of our
leaving early or straight home afternoons? Thus how the tutoring session with Ms. Champion
began.
Some children struggle with one subject, unfortunately I struggled with multiple. After
taking Ms. Champions placement math test. She quickly discovered my other weakness, I
couldnt read. Although, I was only in the 3rd grade I demonstrated to be below grade-level. In
comparison to other students of the same age and grade in her class. Luckily, Ms. Champion was
a willing and extremely patient teacher. She dedicated almost every afternoon to help me learn
how to read. This simple gesture formed a strong relationship, between her and I. For the first
time in my short life, she managed to momentary regain my confidence in literacy. Looking
back at my short journey, it was apparent my direction and my obstacles have not always been
clear let alone obvious. Nevertheless, it was evident, it all began so long ago and with my desire
to learn how to read.
It was in these afternoon sessions, Ms. Champion, unfortunately discovered reading was
not my only subject I struggled with. I remember right after taking her reading comprehension
and math placement test, she looked at my teary-eyed face and said dont worry honey, we will
get you there. Looking back, I realized my mother unfortunately did not understand the
language nor did she understand the importance of being involved in my early education.
Learning how to read became my sole purpose and my only objective, but it also became a
solitary and lonely battle. I would spend multiple recesses in Ms. Champions class, looking at
the pictures of her beautiful library books and pretend I could actually read them. The
embarrassment of having to admit to my own inadequacy, consumed me. According to Jimmy
Baca he also felt, ashamed of not understanding and fearful of asking questions, but all I knew
those picture in those books confirmed my identity(Bacca, 4). I was more fearful of admitting

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my problem rather than accepting it. On the other hand, I yearned to understand the story in all
those books in her library told. I craved to know what story those beautifully illustrated books
told. I remember being in Ms. Champions class and picking up random books and staring at the
passages. I found myself envisioning and even making up words and the even forming my own
storyline. I would mentally draw the conclusion of the story, simply based on the authors
illustrations. It was the mental pictures and my desire to belong which fortified me to continue.
I desperately wanted to be just like everyone else in my class. I no longer sought after to
simply making up the story. I yearned to engage and participate in class, and read and write what
everyone else was assigned. I wanted to confidently sit and complete a writing assignment with
ease, without struggling to read the directions. On the other hand, I did not want to just learn how
to read, I wanted to learn how to comprehend and connect with the books. That year, I read
multiple books and slowly, I began to sounds out and the letters, which formed the words. I
practiced multiple lessons over and over again, at home and with Ms. Champion, together she
encouraged me to persevere. Without realizing this continued struggle has manifested way into
my adult life, particularly into my present college life.
Despite of learning how to read so long ago, the challenges in my reading comprehension
are still a struggle for me. Unfortunately, after I finished the 3rd grade there were no other
teachers in my life; like Ms. Champion. I sort of skated thru junior high and I breezed thru my
high school years; without learning how to analysis text or let alone the proper way of writing of
an essay. It wasnt until recently, which one day something just awoke, inside of me. Just like
Malcom X stated in his Literacy behind Bars narrative as I see it today the ability to read
awoke inside of some long dormant craving to be mentally alive(Malcom 642). I find myself
mentally alive and now crave knowledge.
My education journey hasnt been an easy one. Thru the years it has been a slow and
often an exhausting process, filled with diligence and determination as well as armed with the

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ability and willingness to change and adjust, I have read many inspirational writings, such as
Carol Dweck, the author and creator of The Perils and Promises of Praise, Growth and Fixed
Mindset. she has allowed me to realize in order to accomplish my goal, my fixed mind-set
needed to change. As Dweck, writes students with a fixed mind-set tend to become excessively
concerned with how smart they are and only seek task that will prove their intelligence and avoid
ones that might not. (Dweck 1). I could not understand why was I so resilient in facing my
obstacles and why I only desired to challenge myself with task which I knew that I would
succeed in? How can I recover from my educational pit-fall, if I am constantly only striving for
the easy-way out. I was afraid to sound unintellectual in front of my fellow classmates, my coworkers and even my own family.
It has taken me 20 plus years, but here I am sitting in your STACC-100 class. Terrified
that I have made a mistake in taking an accelerated class, after all what was I thinking, didnt I
just learn how to read, not that long ago? But so far, I have met two wonderful people during my
first year at PCC, that have lead me to believe that my struggle will not be easy but with my
determination to succeed I will persevere. Even if all my experiences with the professors here at
PCC havent been always a positive ones, I am determined to learn and evolve. I managed to
change my mindset from a fixed to a growth mindset and complete 2 semesters in college with a
4.0. I realize I was not alone in the world with my struggles in Literacy, Shoeless Joe
Jackson from the White Socks never learned how to read or write and only learned how to write
his name to be able to endorse his own paychecks. Basically he learned to write his name out of
necessity. The irony of his legacy was since there are only a few autographs in circulation, the
few autographs which do exists are worth well over $100,000. (J. Farren Shoeless Jackson,
2015). Shoeless Jackson, only strive to obtain the minimal skill to survive, however, he died still
being unable to read. I look at my education as a tool, each semester as a stepping stone in my

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educational journey, and strive to never learn only the minimal. Nevertheless, in order to be
fulfill the need, the void must be acknowledged and an action needs to be taken.
What I look forward about his class, is simply learning to love how to write, and learning
how to articulate well. I told my son, I look forward to the day I can finally write that paper,
which I can finally be proud of and someone proud of me. Recently, I was able to accomplish
just that, in this very class. There are no words to be able to explain the feeling of receiving my
first writing assignment with a passing grade and positive feedback from an admirable English
professor as yourself. As wonderful as the moment was, it didnt end there. All of sudden that
one English paper built my confidence and self-esteem to believe in myself and in my ability to
compose. Immediately following that English submission, I successfully wrote a six-page paper
for my Psyc-21, which I have been secretly struggling with the combination of my learning style
and the professors method of teaching, but I persevered and gave it my absolute best. I am
beyond proud to inform my first writing paper for this Psyc-21 class, also provided me with an A
and the professor which hardly says a word, stated Great job Marisol, your paper fulfilled all
the requirements and was well written and organized, again great job Marisol.
In this short time in your class, I have strived to absorb and enhance my writing. I am
even find myself being excited to be able to read the literacy examples which you provide us in
every class. Maybe someday I will be able to make my writing sound as magical and beautiful as
the way you describe it. Professor Adler, what I have gained in your class can not simply be o
my ability, you have awoke in my mind something which I never knew existed inside of me. I
just want to thank you, for your teaching style and for believing in me and in my writing.
Someday I hope to be able to write on paper that exact picture you paint, for us every class.

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References
1) Malcom X, The Norton field Guide to Writing. New York, New York: W. W. Norton
& Company, 2003
2) Gruwell, Erin, The Freedom Writer. New York, New York, Broadway Books, 1999
3) Carol S. Dweck, The Perils and Promises of Praise, Growth Mindset,
4) Shoeless Jackson, https://www.phactual.com/6-famous-people-who-couldnt-read-orwrite/