Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Tenesia Sealey
English 1103
I think I did well explaining how I learned to read and who taught me to
read and write. I had a difficult time figuring out how to word the section
papers. I realized after peer review that I forgot an important piece of the
part too.
Deborah Brandt defines sponsors as “any agents, local or distant, concrete or abstract,
who enable, support, teach, model, as well as recruit, regulate, suppress, or withhold literacy--
and gain advantage by it in some way.” I agree with her in that sponsors help you to reach a
certain point. In my case, this essay is about sponsors who supported me in my strive for literacy,
fluency in a given practice. When I think of a good example of someone who had many sponsors
of literacy to help them become who they are, I think of Malcolm X. His essay about literacy and
his sponsors meant a lot to me. Our circumstances for learning how to read and write were very
different; however, the importance of being literate has had great impacts on both of our lives.
Malcolm X was forced to teach himself how to read and write in prison, but he had help along
the way with sponsors that came into his life. While he had sponsors such as Mr. Elijah
Sealey 2
Muhammad and even the prisoners in the prison he was in, my sponsors were my parents
combined with teachers who helped teach me what I know now. Although I had many more
opportunities because of my parents who have been major supporters and sponsors of my
achievements throughout my life, I already acknowledge how literacy will allow me to live a
bountiful lifestyle.
From the time I was a little girl my parents have drilled in me the importance of
education. They have allowed me to live a life of fun and spontaneity, but not without
encouraging me to do my best in school. They knew that in order for me to get ahead in this
world I had to not only be up to date with my education but I had to excel in things that others
did not. My father took it upon himself to make sure this happened. He taught me how to read
and the basics of writing at a very young age, so when it was time for me to start school I was
prepared. My dad would teach me skills during the mornings before school, even though it
sometimes made me late for class. The teachers would complain about my tardiness but my
parents ignored it because they knew they were doing what was best for me. There is no doubt in
my mind that my parents were my first sponsors of literacy. They instilled in me their
Along with them, I had many other sponsors of literacy like all my English teachers, as
well as other teachers that aided in my education. I have one teacher in particular that did a lot
for me in high school, Ms. Newman, she was my english teacher freshman year but she
continued to help me throughout my four years at North Brunswick. She looked over my papers
whenever I asked her and made sure to give me feedback that I could use to my advantage. She
proof read my essays scholarships at the end of my senior year and wrote recommendation letters
Sealey 3
for me to get into college. Not only did she have something to do with how I performed in school
but she also participated in how colleges and scholarship committees viewed my literacy.
When asked whether my literacy sponsors provided me adequate access, the only logical
answer is YES! My literacy sponsors have opened numerous doors for me, and my past
experiences have offered me life-long benefits that most people take for granted. In this day and
time, we do not realize how lucky we are to have so many resources and people to help us.
After reading Sherman Alexie and Malcom X’s essays about their disadvantages when it
came to what they had access to. I realized how lucky I was to have access to an abundance of
learning aids. I have always had opportunities to purchase literature, go to the library, and use the
computer. Growing up, my dad often took me to the bookstore to read and buy books that I was
interested in. He always said that as long as I wanted to read he would buy me books. I think this
has a lot to do with my progression in literacy. If these opportunities were not openly accessible
to me growing up, my knowledge in these fields would not be as sufficient. My joy of reading
grew with me as I got older. Now I enjoy reading whenever I find free time. I read at work, I read
at the beach, I read at school and I read at home. Once a book captures my attention it is difficult
for me to put it down. I am glad that my primary literacy sponsors, my parents, chose to teach me
basic literacy in reading and writing; however, if I had the opportunity to become literate in a
different skill I would probably choose to be musically literate. Being able to sing or play an
instrument, both interest me and would be beneficial for broadening my overall literacy.
Having a strong support group to aid in the development of one’s literacy is important.
The assistance that a person receives can make the difference between success and failure. I am
thankful and lucky that I had the help of my parents and teachers to guide me through childhood
and make sure I remained headed in the right direction. Without my parents’ willingness to
Sealey 4
provide me with the best resources, I do not know if I would have achieved all the academic
success during my educational career. Hopefully my desire for literacy will continue throughout
my life so that I may continue to open doorways to lead me to be successful in my future career.
Sealey 5
Works Cited