Autobiographical Essay # 1

Literacy development at an early age is a major
foundational block in the progress of a child’s’
learning potential. Learning to read and write is
challenging. Growing up with a hearing deficit caused
me to overcome certain challenges that others would
never think of. As a result, I have learned how to
read lips, I’d sit in the front of the class so I
could hear the teacher better, I would focus more
intently so that I can do well in school and I have
missed more than my fair share of instructions in the
process. In this brief essay, I will discuss some of
the challenges of literacy development while growing
up and the role that my school and parents played
throughout the process.
My earliest recollection of literacy was in 1st
Grade. Mr. Shea, my teacher, was teaching the class
the alphabet. He would have us right our names, which
was difficult for me to do neatly. Luckily, with the
invention of the computer, penmanship isn’t as
important today because mine hasn’t improved since 1st
grade. Throughout my studies I would obviously have
to work on my penmanship, but I think the ugliness of
my writing forced me to focus on the letters, the
shape and curves. In an attempt to correct the sorry
squiggly excuse of letters I called writing, I focused
harder and this caused the letters and sounds to
become ingrained in my brain. The written words were
the answer to all my questions related to my hearing
impairment. If someone wrote his or her request of me,
like a writing assignment instruction sheet, there was
no question about what I heard or what the teacher
wanted, it was in writing. The need for this
unquestionable form of communication instilled in me
the desire to learn and use it. Reading came easy,
spelling was fun because it taught me the proper way
to pronounce the words and elementary reading was all
about stories, so it was fun.
My hearing deficit came parallel with a speech
deficit. Throughout my elementary studies I would
often leave class to attend a speech class. Where we
repeatedly pronounced words over and over again. The
teachers there would say a word, I would say it back
to them, and they would in turn tell me I said it
wrong and talk slower repeating themselves. What I
heard, was what I would say back, but there was no
common grounds between the teachers and me. Reading
corrected a lot of my oral shortcomings and more
exposure to language increased my familiarity of
speaking.
My family was always very supportive; as my dad
couldn’t hear very well from the heavy machinery he
worked with growing up. My grandpa was the same way as
he raced drag boats, which weren’t exactly whisper
quiet. It taught me patience because you can’t help it
if someone doesn’t understand you based on a hearing
loss. My parents bought me a hearing aid but fitting
in as a kid was just as important as hearing at the
time. One comment by another kid and I would take it
out and trying to put it back in later was a hassle.
The hearing aid spent more time in the drawer than it
ever did in my ear. My family was always supportive
and encouraged reading. They never used it as a
punishment and they never denied it from me.
I believe literacy has to do with the environment you
are raised in. Learning was praised and taught as a
good thing. When we, as little kids, want to learn,
the things that help us learn become our friend and
anything that tickles and tackles our imagination
becomes entrancing. Everyone I knew encouraged me to
do well in school, reading was a major asset to do
well in school and as a kid we really want to please
our parents which was another big motivator in
learning to read and write.