Literacy Autobiography

“Amanda, you will never be lonely as long as you have a good book in your hands” was the phrase that must have been repeated to me countless times as a young child by my Auntie Stella. As a little girl, I became enthralled with this phrase and what it could mean to me, along with what I could learn from it. I would ask that dreaded “but why?” question that never results in a good enough answer for a small child. Her answers were always kind and well put, “You will soon enough see.” There was definite truth in what my Aunt taught me about books.

To this very day, I remember going to her house and browsing her bookshelves. I loved to look at the covers and read the summaries. She never had the “appropriate” genre for me but it never stopped her from influencing my book choices. I vividly recall picking up a book that’s binding was sewn and thinking it looked ancient.  I can evoke all of the sensory responses from that moment. The thrills of touching that sewn cover, observing the years of wear from page turning, and the light layer of dust that laid on the spine.  There was no illustration on the front cover or summary on the back, which I think was part of the allure. She told me the title of the book was The Odyssey, which immediately brought some questions to mind. I found myself at the age of seven attempting, with the help of my aunt, to read a novel that I would not see again until high school and college.

My Auntie Stella was definitely the most influential person in my literacy development. She was and still is the single largest influence on my reading career; this was because my grandparents who were not readers raised me. The most that I saw my grandmother read was either a grocery store circular or a tabloid magazine, never an actual book. In fact, my loving Grandfather has made it to seventy-seven having barely been able to read or write his own name. He went to trade school and that was all he ever needed. Once I learned to read, I found myself reading documents to him for his job so that he could fully understand the scope of them. I was always under the impression that I was to do it in order to better my reading ability. It turns out, that I was reading for him.

Once I began reading independently, my Auntie Stella brought me to a local library. I think back to that day every so often.  I found that the endless possibilities, the plethora of books offered was, needless to say, intoxicating.  Soon after my first visit to the library I found myself constantly pleading with anyone who would listen to bring me back. I loved being able to leave this world behind for one that was decorated by fiction and fantasy.  

At a young age, I enjoyed books that were in a series. I preferred to watch and read the character growth. I remember greatly enjoying mystery novels as well. I found myself picking up Nancy Drew and Goosebumps.  As I grew older my tastes matured but my goal was still the same.  I found reading and learning from what I read to be addicting, cathartic experience. I was then, and continue to be almost obsessed with the world of books and what I could possibly take away from these experiences.

When it comes to the aspect of writing, I cannot say that I ever disliked it. I always thought that I was never good enough until middle school. My English teacher, Mrs. Greeley, was probably the most influential person in my life when it comes to writing. In middle school, she taught us the different genres of writing. I noticed my love for a task, that most of peers hated, growing.  With Mrs. Greeley’s guidance I discovered one of my newest loves in life. This truly was a watershed moment in my life. Along with reading, writing became one of my favorite pass-times in life and I tried to do them both as often as possible. 

I firmly believe that education provides the foundation for a person’s love for literacy. My high school curriculum was rich. We read the classics and other current bestsellers, wrote among all the styles and voices while being able to explore the archives that were offered to us. By my junior and senior year, when the electives were offered to us, I found myself taking Advanced Writing, Advanced Placement Literature and Journalism courses. I admit that because of those classes I chose English as a co-major with Education in college. Therefore, I confidently say that my early literacy upbringing has attributed to my job choice and further education to become a Reading Specialist.

Today, my love of literature can be seen in my classroom. I am constantly looking to instill that notion on my students. I can only wish to inspire my students in the way that my Auntie Stella, Mrs. Greeley and characters in books have inspired me. I hope to have made lifelong readers in the different children I have taught throughout my seven years as an educator. My current group of third graders are pushing me to find them more non-fiction, while I continue to introduce them to picture books that teach strong values and lessons even though they’re eight, nine, and ten years old.

My fiancé wholeheartedly shares my love of literature. One of the first times we went out on a date, I mentioned needing a good book. He recommended such an amazing, life-changing read that to this day we both still pick it up for re-reads. His interests are the exact opposite of my preferred genres but we share the love for escaping in a book. It’s a bond that we have that I hold true to my heart.

After years of learning how to hone my literacy skills, I now view them as not only an outlet to express my emotions but, a conduit with which I can display my views and opinions for all to see and understand. I currently consider myself a true bibliophile and as my Auntie Stella taught me, the notion that there is nothing better than being able to escape reality by getting lost in the pages of a book. I am still growing as a reader because I am always branching into new genres that captivate me. I know in the core of my being that my love of literature will never die. Books have helped me through some of the lowest points in my life. From my battle with cancer, to the death of my grandmother and mother, I have had books to help me escape. I use writing mostly as a form of self-reflection. I find myself commenting on not only my own teaching skills in my journal but those of the veteran teachers and their individual teaching styles. I feel it is a necessary process in order to grow in any field that we choose to put our efforts forth in.