Mary Aldridge

Professor A. Batty

UWRT 1101

September 22, 2015

Literacy has been a part of our everyday lives since we were born. From watching

cartoons that taught us our ABC’s, listening to our parents read us bedtime stories, being in

school and learning how to write, and even watching videos on YouTube. We are surrounded by

technology and people that communicate experiences to us through words. There are so many

examples of literacy that you can’t begin to count them all. Some experiences seem to have a

larger effect on us than others.

Growing up, my dad would come into my room every night before bed and make up

some absurd bedtime story. Each time he would come up with a different story and it always

amazed me. Sometimes, he would go into such detail with his stories that I began to think they

were real. I remember lying in my bed laughing dramatically as he would go on for a solid hour.

As I’ve gotten older, I have realized how much these “bedtime” stories have actually affected

me. I believe that this literacy experience has affected my writing in a positive way. I think that it

has given me a lot more imagination as a child, and today, when telling stories or writing. My

father’s creative imagination has helped me be able to build onto many topics. For future

writings, I believe this gives me a bit of a head start. It’s easy for me to think of how to add

words, or make up as I go along, like a story teller would. This experience had power in it. When

you’re a child, everything your parents do or say influences who and what you become as you

age. Having a dad that would share his bizarre imagination with me influenced me to want to

have this same type of story-telling ability.

Another thing I learned about literacy when I was growing up is how much I despise

themed/timed writing. In fourth grade we would have writing tests that measured your ability to

stay on topic, with an interesting story line, while being timed. Every time we had one of these

coming up I dreaded it. I felt like I was rushed and didn’t have the necessary time I needed to

make up a good paper. This has been an experience I’ve had throughout school, even on the

SAT. As I’ve gotten older the timed writing wasn’t as much of a problem as it was themed. Most

people enjoy reading and writing things of their own choosing. No one is going to go see a

movie or go to an event that they don’t want to go to, it’s just in our nature. Adaptation to

Mary Aldridge

Professor A. Batty

UWRT 1101

September 22, 2015

literacy involves a connection with a piece you’re writing or reading. When you don’t have that

connection, it becomes harder to understand and relate to. I think this experience had an

extremely negative affect on me, especially when I was younger. Having no interest in a specific

topic you’re required to write about makes the writing process become much more difficult. The

paper tends to be less interesting and could potentially show no character. As I’ve grown up, I

still tend to struggle with timed and themed writing, but we all have to do things for teachers and

professors that we don’t necessarily want to do. Typically, my future writings will continue to be

difficult if they are timed. I have definitely learned how to deal with themed topics, but timing

will always be a struggle. I know that I need to organize myself a lot more when I am being

timed so I can have a stronger paper.

Although writing has been a struggle for me throughout my life, reading has been

significantly different. My mom has always been the type of person to read every night before

bed. I had always been around books and stories, but never read for pleasure. In third grade I had

a teacher that suggested a book series for me. The series was called Among the Hidden. It was

much above my grade level, but she felt like I could comprehend them. I am now a freshman in

college and can still say that series is my favorite. After I finished them, I continued to read for

fun throughout my school years. I have come across several books, such as The Glass Castle and

All Quiet on the Western Front, that have been assigned to me that I’ve loved. I think reading is

an amazing way to get into something that could possibly relate to you, while learning new

information. Every book or piece is written for a purpose, whether it’s to inform, or simply

entertain. Reading will always be a big part of my life and it has helped me grow as a writer. I

think of multiple experiences where I’ve been writing and I will think back on a book and

wonder, “How was this written in that book?” It seems bizarre, but when I read a book that I

love, I remember lots of little details in it, down to how the writer tried to convey a message to

me as a reader. With reading being such a big turning point in my writing, it has helped me with

my current writing skills by showing me ways of getting certain points across. Reading has also

helped me expand my vocabulary, which is also helpful in writing.

Mary Aldridge

Professor A. Batty

UWRT 1101

September 22, 2015

Literacy experiences have never been something I have thought of. In my mind, I never

thought there was any specific reason as to why or why not I enjoyed reading or writing. When I

was asked the question of what experiences I’ve had that have affected me as a writer, I was

stumped. It’s crazy to think what all a writer goes through in their life to write the way they do,

good or bad. Everyone has had a different literacy experience and I think that is what makes this

topic so unique and interesting.