Literacy Narrative

Lauren’s post reminded me of something that I should have included in my own literacy narrative. Like her dad, my mom frequently made up bedtime stories for my older brother and me. Her stories were often in the Beatrix Potter vein, and included characters named after the two of us. I always marveled at her creativity and the fluidity with which she wove her narratives. In first grade, when I was asked to write a story for the first time, I remembered the characters that had lulled me to sleep for so many years. I decided that even though my mom had since stopped creating new stories, that didn’t mean their adventures had to be over. When my mom read my story, she was delighted that I had taken those characters and created something unique that was mine alone. It is only looking back on that now that I realize this story was essentially fanfiction. Given that my “discovery” of fanfiction in junior high helped foster my digital literacy, it’s interesting to see how much earlier I was actually introduced to the concept.

I genuinely struggled writing my literacy narrative, but not because I had trouble defining “literacy.” Rather, I wanted to explore the ways in which my literacies have developed, but at the same time I wanted to make that explanation meaningful. Though I acquired my literacies on my own, I recognize the influence that others have had on their development, as well as my own personal growth. Traditional and digital literacy are not just skills I possess; they are factors that have had an active role in shaping who I am today. My passion for language and my enthusiasm for technology have brought me to the point in my life I am currently at, and hopefully they will carry me into my future.