Autobiographical Essay: Week 2

I was the new student second grader in Miss M’s second-third grade combination class. I jumped from different elementary schools so much that the transfers no longer bothered me as much. However, I knew this time was going to be different. I never was taught how to read properly prior to attending this new school of mine. I could write my name perfectly – and I did know my alphabet and could write them exceptionally well too. The others schools I attended never put much more interest in teaching the students more than that though. It seemed as though they hoped the parents would take responsibility over whether their child could read and write.

The day finally came where I was tested for my reading and comprehension skills. Never was there a worse time where disappearing from the face of the Earth seemed like a better option to me. I had to tell the teacher that I had no idea what any of the stories really were saying. I could barely pick out any of the words. I was afraid that this fancy new school of mine would reject me entirely. All their students were gifted – and now they had to deal with one that couldn’t even read?

They told my parents, and they had numerous meetings on finding the best way to address the situation. By this time – I was willing to do anything to stay in this new school. All I could imagine was the feeling of failure if they decided I wasn't worth the teacher's time. They didn’t put me down; instead they made me a priority student. I was able to forget what the kids might be thinking of me for my inability to read, and agreed with my teacher and parents to take reading lessons with the Kindergarten class during my recesses. I think I can easily say that was the hardest thing I have ever worked at. I would ask anyone who would listen to just sit with me and read a few sentences from whatever article or book they might be holding.

It didn’t take much longer that I became a top reader. I loved my new ability more than anything. Book after book – each new word I could read and understand pushed me that much further in the direction I had been gated from going in only a few weeks prior. I still consider this my greatest accomplishment. I consider my self so fortunate to have so many teachers go out of their way to help me, something I never experienced with any other schools. In some ways, I am glad that this is the route I took to finally get my reading and writing skills down. I am not sure my passion for literature would be as great, or my enthusiasm to write would be as strong if things were any different.