Having parents that have obtained higher education certificates/ degrees does out some pressure on their children to not only finish their schooling always have some sort of willingness or eagerness to do so. My mother holding an associates and my father with a bachelors and masters, both migrating from Guyana, made education a very important factor for their children. I learned about reading and writing as early as it could be taught to me. My father would stay up until any hour of the night to help me complete my homework. He would attend every parent teacher conference, and ask for even report card. My ability to read and write was very important to him. Even down to my summer days, he made ways for me to still be "ever-learning" by purachsung activity books ie reading comprehension and mathematics. I was force into literacy. I was forced because my father wanted the best for my education but also because ei didn't push myself hard enough. While my father, held the role as my greatest supporter, he also treated me very bad when I did not meet his standards. I would be called names like imbecile, stupid, incompetent, dumb and idiot. experiencing these moments, made me resent literacy. it felt like something was out of reach for me. I never cared for literacy in the capacity my parents did. Even to this day, I do not enjoy reading and feel insecure when writing but I understand that it is a requirement in my life.
Around 11th grade, I felt literate. I was able to have my gpa gradually go up and was entering in Honors English for the 12th grade. Its made me feel like I didn't always have to talk because the way I wrote was actually goof enough and maybe even better than good enough. The Monet quickly faded when I got to college I was put into remedial courses. I still feel very insecure about how well I write. I don't usually take much time to think about the order of my papers/essays nor do I stay on topic. its safe to say I try to be myself but I do that too well. Its almost like I'm talking when I write (kinda like right now). Professors don't want to read me writing like I talk, they want to see a difference but I struggle with that aspect.
The most I read these days are things from the media. I enjoy dramas and mysteries so Instagram and twitter help me grow as a literate person. I don't read and write as much I as should. I journal sometimes but even after a page and half I feel annoyed or bored with writing about my day. I would prefer to just speak sometimes
Abby,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing about your hot and cold relationship with literacy. There is something to me about reading (and writing, too) that seems to open doors for me. However, part of that is the positive encouragement I received when I was young. You are fortunate to have parents that cared so greatly for your education, but you do a good job of showing how the pressure they put on you also made it more difficult for you in some ways.
There are some simple strategies you may wish to use to insure that your message and your intent is clear in you writing for your reader. One is to read what you wrote out loud to yourself (you can sometimes edit this way). Another strategy is to have an editing buddy who can read your final draft (almost all of us are too close to what we write to see what may need editing).
Thanks so much for sharing -- I'm a mystery fan too!
Professor Knauer