Literacy Autobiography

    I am Katty Davila, a sophomore at New Jersey City University. My major is biology and I want to attend vet school and become a veterinarian. I love animals and have thought about eventually running a veterinary clinic. I also love to sing and play guitar. I took this class because I enjoy reading and analyzing various kinds of literature.

This is me happily holding a hamster (RIP Cookie).

    Many of my memories of literacy were riddled with difficulty and impatience. I was frustrated by my limitations. At times I did not know how to spell or say certain words. I could not even spell my name! I wanted things to click, but for a long time, they did not. As a result, I worked harder.

    I was determined to learn to read and write. It came to the point where I would sit down, pretend I could write, and scribble nonsense. I would take books and say random sentences out loud because I could not read yet. I wanted to understand all the words on everything I saw. On cereal boxes, TV, fliers, magazines, you name it. I needed to understand everything.

    One of the earliest experiences I can recall of being literate comes from a coloring book. I remember reading words on a page to my parents and seeing them beam and cheer me on, so I kept going because I loved the encouragement. Not everyone was as encouraging, though. My brother, classmates, and even some teachers disheartened me. It might have affected me then, but now I know their words moved me to be a better reader and writer. 

    I was my biggest inspiration. I wanted to prove to everyone who doubted my literate ability that I could not only do what they thought I could not but surpass their expectations. It was not just about them, though. I wanted to prove them wrong because I knew I could. I knew I was more capable than I could imagine and that reading and writing would come to me as easily as breathing air.

    I would not be able to do this without my parents, however. Their help was invaluable to my literacy journey. My mom was (and still is) religious so she taught me to read and write Spanish through religious texts, like the bible. Thanks to her, I am completely fluent! My dad on the other hand would help me by explaining homework assignments I did not understand and checking them when I was done. This drove me to work harder so I would not need my dad’s help and he would have nothing to correct or suggest. They were my biggest supporters!

    Nowadays, literacy is all around me. I use it to check my school schedule, send emails, and even when I text my friends to hang out. I use it every day. It allows me to connect with others and expand my knowledge on different topics, from figuring out the steps to becoming a veterinarian to learning the chords for a song on the guitar.