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Literacy Narrative

Ashley Kidd

Franklin University

23/SP-ENG-120-Q2WW Online

Professor Allison Woods

February 26, 2023

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Literacy Narrative

            I had an incredibly unique childhood that shaped the way I read and write as an adult.

When I was two years old, my mom accepted a job as a camp director. This wasn’t just any

camp; it was a camp for individuals with special needs, and it was operational year-round.

During the school year, the camp sessions were limited to the weekends, but in the summer, it

was just like any other summer camp. This job required her to live on campgrounds, which

meant the whole family lived on campgrounds. We lived there until I was 16 years old, but I

continued working there. When I was 12, I was finally old enough to officially be a volunteer,

which was the start of me getting a closer look into just how many things I had in common with

the campers. It was the start of how this whole experience shaped how I think today. At the age

of 16, I was old enough to be a staff member, which was when I was responsible for learning the

ins and outs of their individual needs through the documents that outlined every detail about each

camper.

         For as long as I can remember, staff training was held throughout the first week of the

summer. I have always been a sponge for knowledge that I didn’t necessarily need but was

interested in. I would spend that first week of my summer break sitting through as many

trainings as I could. I learned a plethora of things to the extent that I was the only staff member

ever to score 100% on the end-of-training test. What I didn’t know then was how these trainings

were one of the smaller pieces of this experience that were shaping the way I now read and write.

As a whole, my unique childhood experience played a massive role in how I think today as an

adult.

         One of the job duties I had as a camp counselor was daily documentation. I had to

document the most minor details of the campers’ daily lives while they were in my care, from
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how much they ate to what activities they participated in or refused to participate in. Each

individual had a set of goals they were supposed to be working towards. These goals could be for

improvement on social skills, daily living skills (independently showering, brushing teeth, etc.),

or a multitude of other things most people don’t think twice about being able to do. I had to

document what steps I helped them take toward those goals. This documentation had to be very

matter-of-fact. I was not allowed to include my opinions in any capacity. Because of this, I had

to learn to leave my opinions out of my writing. This has absolutely been an advantage for me

when I’ve had to write fact-based pieces. However, it’s been a disadvantage when I’ve had to

write anything requiring me to include my opinions or subliminal messages. 

         This job also shaped the way I read. Just as I had to write in a very matter-of-fact manner,

the documents I had to read to get to know each person and their goals were also fact-filled.

There was nothing left to interpretation. These documents were called MyPlans. They were

created by a team of people, including the individual. MyPlans are similar to Individualized

Education Plans, or IEP. They are legally binding contracts that lay out details about the

individual, including their age, preferences, and disability. Additionally, they include a

breakdown of the person's care plan and goals. Goals can include anything from social,

communication, skills, and behavior with which someone needs additional help. This shaped the

way I read in the same way the daily documentation shaped my writing. I am at a disadvantage

when reading things that require me to pick up on implied information or symbolism. However, I

have no issues comprehending anything that is strictly fact-based, such as research papers.

Not only did this job shape the way I read and write, but it also shaped the way I think. It

showed me that everyone has their differences, whether those differences are obvious or more

subtle. I see other people in a way that most don’t. For example, often people with more subtle
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symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are seen as socially awkward, blunt, or anti-

social because people on the Autism spectrum struggle with social cues and recognizing tone.

When I see someone struggling with social situations, I don’t automatically write them off as

strange or rude. Instead, I tend to think they might have some underlying cause for not picking

up on those social cues, and I try to get to know the person before making those quick character

judgments. 

         There are other things to which I credit my literal, matter-of-fact reading, writing, and

thinking style. That’s generally just how my brain functions. However, my experience as a camp

counselor solidified my need for straightforward, literal writing and reading. I can’t say I would

have an easier time picking up on implied messages while reading if I had never had the

experience I did while growing up, but I do think the environment played a significant role. I am

so grateful for my unique childhood because every day, I see people being judged without being

understood. I get the opportunity to be that person who makes a difference for the people who

are automatically labeled as strange, blunt, or anti-social. People with social struggles can feel

utterly alone in this world, and I get to be the person who sees them in a way that most don’t

because of the environment I was raised in.