Autobiographical Essay # 3

Luke Granger

            My first positive school experience with literacy was in the 3^rd Grade at Grandview Elementary School. I caught on to reading fairly quick and by the third grade I was above average in comparison to my fellow classmates. For this reason the teacher took several of us better readers and asked us to participate in a B.E.A.R. reading class. I forget what B.E.A.R. stands for now, but it was a program for the slightly older kids to help teach the younger ones how to read.

            This program was two fold. It boosted the helper's confidence as well as benefited the younger kids by having someone of the same mind set and fresh with conquering the same struggles as these kids were going through help them. We would spend a half hour to an hour once a week at the library reading a book with the younger kids, helping them with the words they didn’t know or had trouble with. It made the helpers proud that we were chosen to help and that the little kids looked up to you so much that it forced you to legitimately want to help them succeed. For a brief moment you got to see what it felt like to be an influence in someone’s life even when you don’t think you’re doing anything special.

            As teachers, cops, fireman, parents and just responsible members of today’s generation we must not forget that everyone around us is impressionable. Younger kids especially, don’t recognize whether they are absorbing vinegar or water in their sponge like minds. Teaching fire prevention at the elementary school or doing a station tour as Sparky has affirmed my belief that we do make a difference in the world by affecting the generations below us; whether it be for better or worse. Be cognoscente of your actions and what they may perceive.

            It starts with taking our own thoughts captive. When we know who we are, what we stand for, and why we do and act the way we do is where we begin to have the capability to analyze ourselves. When we figure ourselves out then we can recognize what we need to change. I am not perfect, I know there are many things in my heart and in my actions I need to change, but like an addict, we must first recognize our problems before we can fix them. When we recognize are faults in ourselves we can then conquer them so those we hope to help don’t view it as an acceptable norm. Literacy, especially in kids start far beyond a text. The way we dress, flaunt, walk, talk, act the values we believe in, all these are being read whether we like it or not by those around us. We are a walking advertisement of our being, just like the logo we wear on our shirts, we’re being read and notes are being taken by the ones we are around.