The Beginning
My interest in literacy did not really start until the 8th grade, which was my first chance to write and read texts in a meaningful way. My first attempts at writing were met with some tough feedback. I was told my writing felt unprofessional, and that this kind of sloppy writing would not fly in high school. This feedback filled me with despair, it made me feel like reading and writing were just not my thing, that I had no talent for literacy. It took quite a bit of reflection for me to realize I was not meant to be great at this yet. Much like the name of the project, literacy is a journey, and I was just really at the beginning. If I would have stopped now I would have missed out on engaging with some of my favorite classes and novels. This is when I knew I had to just keep trying and the results would come eventually. Of course, just as I began to start enjoying literacy quite a bit, the Covid pandemic took over and suspended my ability to engage with it. This was probably the most challenging point in my life as far as development. I did not have school to rely on, so I realized it was time to take this journey upon myself. The first full-length novel I read was The Long Walk by Stephen King. This book had a profound effect upon my life; it showed me the great ways literacy can be used to affect a larger group of people. So, once school commenced again, I began writing about the novels I was reading. Though I thought my writing was excellent in 8th grade, it was clear I had many things to improve on.
Music that inspired me
I wanted to do something unique to reflect on my journey with a subject that has been very important to me: Music. The Beatles are, in my opinion, the greatest band ever, and their songwriting certainly had an influence on me. They were the first band I really ever loved, and I think it points to where I was at in my literacy journey at that point. Just about every band takes some influence at the Beatles, and then they eventually develop their own style. I was no exception, I had just begun writing and reading, still trying to find my style, but it was time to branch out from the classics and find my niche in literacy. I chose “Day in the Life” because I believe it incapsulates some of my writing and reading philosophy. Some would say it would sound disjointed, not put together enough, but that is how my journey has gone and that’s ok. Don’t let anyone tell you that you must take the linear path, or that failure is unacceptable. Even the Beatles faltered sometimes, and I certainly have too. But there is a reason they are the greatest band ever: They kept at it. And that is the same message I want to convey in this project.
Fatherly Influence
My dad was the first person to introduce me to the world of reading. He showed me Stephen King and his great horrors. Then he also showed me his softer side of Michael Connelly and his Lincoln Lawyer series, which was special to me because I want to be a lawyer myself. My dad showed me the fun side of literacy, that you do not always have to be doing a school assignment or something academic to engage with reading, it can actually be a lot of fun. Barnes and Noble has become a staple of ours, it is one of my favorite places to go, and reading has been one of the integral sources of our bonding. It can be difficult to see just how many places literacy affects your everyday life, but as you develop, it is easy to realize the profound effect it has.
Why This Section Matters to the Narrative
I know it is easy to feel like literacy skills are something that is innate, if you do not have them from birth, you were never getting them. That could not be further from the truth. Literacy is something that develops over time, if somebody told you they had it all figured out immediately, they were not being truthful. If you are sitting at a relatively young age and feel like throwing in the towel, look to this section of my narrative. I was told my writing was really no good, and that I would not succeed in high school. I could have taken that feedback, resigned to the fact that I would not succeed, and given up trying. But I did not, the only one who decides whether you succeed or not is yourself. That is why when you feel like giving up, you have to get back on the saddle.
Nicolas Drago Digital Literacy Narrative 