The Importance of Literacy Essay Example
Imagine what the world would be like if the majority of the population was not literate. Literacy plays such an important role that not only helps communicate, but understand what is going on. Being illiterate comes with a stigma and I can't fathom why people would shame others for something that they didn’t weren’t privileged enough to receive. As I’ve gone through life I’ve seen what it’s like to grow up with no proper education. Literacy is so crucial now-a-days and I believe that without it I'd be nowhere.
Words have always followed me, they’ve helped me understand the world I'm living in. From a very young age I’ve associated myself with words as it was the only way to communicate. At the age of three I was enrolled into preschool to help me learn what my parents didn't have the opportunity to. At the time all I knew was Spanish and I truly did struggle, at the time it acted as a barrier that I couldn't control. I didn’t have parents that were able to guide me through becoming a proficient speaker as well as a proficient learner. During those years I learned so much, as I entered elementary school it was as if I had never struggled. I was able to use the newly learned information to help me communicate. I now look back and appreciate how even when there was a barrier I overcame it to help me succeed. As a kid I didn’t really understand why going to school was important, thinking about it now I see that all those years of learning prepared me to be someone who is able to use literacy everyday.
Being literate doesn't mean that I loved and look forward to reading books or using my brain in complicated ways. When I was in elementary I enjoyed going to school because everyday I got to learn something new from people who wanted us to succeed. I really did love when teachers had us do activities that involved hands on learning, but I hated reading and writing. I didn’t struggle with either, but for some reason I still despised it. I still haven't grown fond of it, but I find that it’s necessary. I remember we always had to write a paragraph each time we went on break and that always stuck with me. The past, present, and future will always rely on us to find a way to bring light to it. As I went into middle school and high school the way I communicated with others changed, it wasn't just the basics, it was more of a formal and advanced way of thinking.
Transitioning from a lower level to something that is more advanced can be hard. As I went through both high school and middle school I still came across many problems. As I’ve stated my parents didn't receive an education, they grew up in poverty and didn't have the chance to dedicate their time to school. Their struggles inspired me and at the same time forced me to become someone who would not stoop to the bare minimum. I matured in middle school which allowed me to have the mindset of someone who wished to be able to have the resources that I did. I saw that being illiterate gets you nowhere, people can't function on their own when literacy just isn't there. During middle school and high school is when people from countries that have high levels of illiteracy either stop attending school or just give up in order to help provide for their family. They don't have the capabilities that we do, they can't comprehend in the same way that we do which ultimately affects them in the long run. If those countries did try to better their education then many good things would come out of it.
By the time high school was ending my literacy capabilities allowed me to graduate early and get a head start on my future career. College especially requires a high level of thinking, things are definitely more complex. All those years of hardship and learning have prepared me for what was to come. I come to the realization that literacy is even more crucial, this essay for example is a great way to depict it. I am retelling my life in a way that many can’t. Even though I struggle with finding a way to enjoy reading I have to think about how I'll benefit from this sometime in the future.
Literacy is all around me, it not only affects the way that I live but the way that I am able to use my knowledge as my advantage. At any given moment where I communicate I use literacy to help get my point across. It's also how I receive inputs that help better me as an individual. I am also able to use my literacy to help those who aren't as fortunate. Literacy is a critical aspect that I need in my life, without it I’d be in shambles.
