Literacy Autobiography Rough Draft

Looking back (reflecting) on my education and everyday experience I have realized there are many different factors that led me to become the literate person that I am today. My mother is a big influence in my life and she has helped form me into a literate individual. I always think of my experience with the military, being a military brat, I thought only affected my communication skills and exposed me to diversity. Yet, in doing so, I received my literacy as well. Everything from my accent to the African American vernacular I thoughtlessly rumble out are reflections of my life’s journey into literacy.

                Being a military brat was a huge influence in my journey to literacy.  Growing up as a military brat every 3 to 4 years I went to a different school.  One place that I have lived was Atlanta, Georgia when I was in elementary school.  I don’t remember a lot of details from that age, but I do remember learning how to write paragraphs in the first grade.  My teacher was reviewing our paragraphs as we practiced making up sentences, and forming paragraphs. Mrs. Beasly read over my shoulder while I continued my sentences, and she asked me to bring my paper and come with her.  My teacher was very impressed with how well I caught on to the concept of paragraphs, and sent me to another classroom to help other students write paragraphs.  I can’t remember exactly how long we had been working on paragraphs, but I do remember the experience. I was not aware at the time that this was part of my journey to literacy, but now I see that this memorable experience is memorable because it was important to experience becoming literate.

                My eighth grade year at Ed White Middle School, in San Antonio Texas my teacher gave us a writing assignment, the topic was to write about being the best person we could be.  I ran with the opportunity, using my name Samantha Best as my gimmick, I wrote my paper.  The day that we turned in our assignment, we would have to read our papers aloud in front of the class.  I did not mind reading my paper, because I was the type of student who volunteered to read aloud in class. I would even go so far as to get irritated if the teacher picked the particularly slow readers, stutters, or people who read words wrong without correcting them. I practiced reciting mine in front of the bathroom mirror, because I was frantically ecstatic about reading my paper in front of the judges, if I did well in class.  As hoped, I made it to the competition.  Though I did not take a place and win a price, I have always been proud of myself for making it to the competition. This event in my life serves as an example of how being a military brat, who spent time mimicking her mother, to become a literate individual.