Alan Betesh
English
Prof. Perry
5 December, 2022
Literacy Builds Me
Literacy is everywhere. On a billboard, poster, spoken by people, the list goes on, but it is how we let it affect us that truly matters. I have seen many writings before and they shaped how I am as a person today and allowed me to realize what I am really interested in. Everyone interprets and sees literacy differently. Although I don’t usually enjoy Literacy, it helps develop the brain, build character, and to become an overall better person.
Growing up I never enjoyed literacy, usually thinking it is useless. Kids just want to have fun; they don’t like to be forced to do anything, but that is what schools do. I always remember school never giving me a choice with work and I hated it, but when I decided to do something I enjoyed it and got it done quickly. I used to hate reading so much my parents would have to hold me down and read the book to me for school. I first started lying when it came to reading books because I didn’t want to do it. I never thought about how much Literacy affects our everyday lives until now. Although I never enjoyed literacy, it still affects my personality now.
Everyone closest to me loves to read. Jewish people once a week, on saturday, put away all electronics and have many rules to stop them from doing work. My family is religious, so once a week my whole family is either praying or reading a book. I used to be a big gamer and a lot of games had books made from them, so they were always around me. I was introduced to Percy Jackson in 7th grade by my friend and I thought it was weird. I was always a quiet kid, but never smart because I was always distracted. Games were different though and were my first real way of enjoying literacy because I was always learning there. Something that was always hard for me to understand tho was the language barrier that i have with people whether they speak chinese hebrew spanish arabic I didn’t always understand them. On Saturdays for me this is different because I am basically cut off from the rest of the world and only see people like me that speak the same languages as me. That is when I first picked up a book. My friend and cousin al;ways loved to talk about Percy Jackson and it really interested me. The first series I ever read was Percy Jackson, by Rick Riordan, which I immediately fell in love with. I started seeing so many connections between today and Greek mythology, for example the god of victory Nike. We are surrounded by literacy and there are so many different ways to understand it and if you keep looking deeper you’ll always find a different interpretation leaving much excitement and emotions.
Literacy allows one to understand other people better and gain better empathy for them. I didn’t realize how people truly struggle until I started reading books about different countries and history in the past. I found out how lucky I am to be living in this century with so little war compared to back then. I am much safer than how others were and we could all thank our ancestors for that. Although I realized how lucky I am, I’ve met many people from around the world who aren’t nearly as lucky as I am and because of literacy I can sympathize for them and when reading a book about it I feel their emotions. Literacy is also a love language where you can write poems. I always love poems because my brain usually works differently than others and it always amazes me how many different interpretations people could see from one word. In my opinion poems are the best way for one to portray their feelings through writing. The next best way to portray your feelings is through singing a song, especially for someone you love. Literacy allows you to have a different and most of the time even better interpretation on many things including people.
Through all the writings and words spoken our brains have grown and we have become more intellectual human beings. I have personally felt my intellectual abilities increase through literature. I have also learned to code switch. When I am with some friends I talk differently than with others. If my friends from school and at home both met up they would think I were two completely different people. I am able to juggle different personalities and please different people with this. Whether I have to be quiet, loud or an overall happy person. I am always smiling though because I am with others and talking with them. Now I love to read, but I am not yet perfect at making others feel my emotions through my writing and I hold back. I have become more mature due to literature.
Although I don’t usually enjoy Literacy, it helps develop the brain, build character, and to become an overall better person. Some might resent literature as I once did, but after writing this essay I have realized I actually love it. I suggest everyone try to better themselves, talk to others and try to understand them using your words and emotions. Pay attention to your surroundings and enjoy life. Enjoy people and their differences.