My Introduction to Literacy

                                   Introduction to Literacy  

                                                                     By Samir Ramessar

My introduction to literacy began when I was four to five years old. I was in kindergarten at the time. Every evening when I got home from school, my mother would read children’s books with me; going over each and every word teaching me how to properly enunciate them. 

However, this habit would expand as the years went on, I began to read the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne. The Magic treehouse books were a staple of my childhood; I vividly remember going to the library and finding one to read. Reading became a pillar in my life, something that I would genuinely look forward to. While the genres and authors of books that I would read went on to change, one thing stayed the same and that was my love for reading. It started my journey of becoming literate; and played a crucial role in becoming the individual I am today.Those evenings after school that I spent reading with my mother, led me to the path I’m on now. I learned how to comprehend as well as articulate myself; skills that are needed to get through day to day life. These skills will continue to aid me for the foreseeable future.  

As a result of delving into the world of literature at a young age, I configured a creative and active imagination. Oftentimes I find myself visualizing whatever I may be reading. Every description and adjective within a story comes to life in my mind. This creativity transcended literature, becoming a crucial part of who I am. An early introduction to literacy greatly benefitted my creativeness. It showed me how to truly express said creativity through the use of reading and writing. Without it, my creative expression would be greatly limited. I can truly say that thanks to an early introduction to literacy, I’ve been able to properly express my thoughts and feelings. Knowing the proper verbiage that should be used. 

I truly attribute my academic success to an early introduction to literacy; learning how to read and write early on, opened so many doors for me. It led me down a path of great academic success. A simple building block that grew into so much more. Without it, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to be a part of the Honors program here at NJCU. So many opportunities that I’ve been given thanks to my introduction to literacy. As I’ve previously stated, it’s given me so much. I’ll continue to be thankful for it, and the assistance it’s given me. Because without it, who knows where I’d be. 

When I’m asked what my introduction to literacy was, I’ll always think back to those nights after school reading books with my mother. She introduced me to the world of reading and literacy. Forever shaping who I would become. Those times that I spent reading with her may have seemed minuscule back then, but as I get older I realize how much it helped me. It laid the foundation for what was to come. And for that I’ll always be thankful. I look back at those times fondly, will always be grateful that my mother was heavily invested in my education.