The Importance of Literacy & How it has helped to mold my life

The Importance of Literacy & How it has helped to mold my life
Reading is defined as a learning set of strategies based on the oral interpretation of a written, or printed, language.
From time to time people have wondered why reading is important. There seems to be so many other things to do with one's time. Reading is important for a variety of reasons because there seems so many other things to do with one’s time. Reading is important for a variety of reasons. These fundamental reasons are as those listed as followed:
Reading…..
Is fundamental to function in today’s society
Develops the mind
Is how we, as people, discover new things
Improves one’s spelling skills
Is to build on the good ideas and expose the bad
Are words-- spoken and written—are the building blocks of life
Growing up, kids have so many dreams, and they long to have many choices as to what is out in the world that they can do and make of their lives. Some want to be doctors, lawyers and teachers. Others even princes and princesses; precious goals and dreams, one might think. This is because in the beginning, children genuinely want to help those other than themselves. Sadly, not every child is fortunate enough to make their vision(s), as this, come true.
‘Good schools’ are what everyone wants, but sometimes I wished someone would tell me what those words mean.
As a child, I loved to read because living in the state of extreme poverty, I figured the only way there was to get out of that type of environment was by way of education.
For my siblings and I, every morning was nearly the same. We got dressed, ate breakfast, grabbed our backpacks, said a family prayer, and we were on our way (the morning ritual).although this was an everyday routine, there was always this uneasy feeling that, in a way, took ahold of you. You see, I along with my three sisters (3) and younger brother (1), were raised in a small town called Shelby, MS. Within this minute setting, located in the heart of Bolivar County, rested the North Bolivar School District (NBSD) where we attended school. Had we remained stationed there throughout our entire educational experience I am not sure what kind of literary stance I would possess.
The entire district was a failure factory. It seemed as though the district could not meet, what I refer to as ‘educational architects’ it needed to assist in the prosperity of the school district. No local body or political authority figure was willing to make known the errors, even within the system. Resulting from this matter, my siblings and I were transferred to the Clarksdale Municipal School District, where I resided up to my seventh grade (7th) education year. Resulting from this, it, too, led me to become an activist for a better education that results to higher learning because I was, and have always been the type of individual who believed that within a set system, there should, and would always remain, order. Having been away from the NBSD for 5 plus years, I had to re-acquaintance myself with the system. And although it was in horrid shape, we, as a system, now had administrators of who, as I, identified the lack of order and hope of a higher education, and did something about it. In the year of 2008, the Peer Power Tutorial Program was introduced to not only the North Bolivar School District (NBSD), but also to the state of Mississippi. Did you know that aside from Mississippi, Tennessee is the only outside state that has such a program as Peer Power! This tutorial program is the first of its kind in the state of Mississippi, and it remains one of the most successful 21st Century programs. The mission of the Peer Power Program was synthesized into a creed which states the following: "I am here today because I want to make my future ten times better. I must first master mathematics, reading, writing, and speaking skills. I must always work harder than others. Life is a competitive sport. I want to be somebody someday." In the year of 2009, I was hired as a tutor for the tutorial program. And by being consistent, and exceeding past the call of duty, I soon became the leading high school, Mathematics and English administrator for the entire program. In addition, I was named ‘tutor-of-the-year’ three years consecutively. In the following year, I headed a group of eight high school students, and within a day we formed a group that goes by the name of Students Involved in Community Change (SICC). This organizations’ main objective was to assist/help prepare students in organizing for an excellent education. SICC encourages positive community participation in the schools so that more students will be prepared for college. The goal is to also want our schools to be so good that people will want to move to and send their kids to the North Bolivar School District instead of living in town and sending their kids to other schools. As you can see, reading, as stated in the beginning, is fundamental in today’s society, it aids in mind development, and it is how we, everyday people, discover new things. There are many adults who cannot read well enough to understand the instructions on a medicine bottle. That is a scary thought - especially for their children. Filling out applications becomes impossible without help. Reading road or warning signs is difficult. Even following a map becomes an inconvenience. Day-to-day activities that many people take for granted become a source of frustration, anger and fear. Literacy is of vital importance because it helps to develop the mind. The mind is a muscle. It needs exercise. Understanding the written word is one way the mind grows in its ability. Teaching young children to read helps them develop their language skills. It also helps them learn to listen. Everybody wants to talk, but few can really listen. Lack of listening skills can result in major misunderstandings which can lead to job loss, marriage breakup, and other disasters - small and great. Reading helps children, and adults, focus on what someone else is communicating; it even helps them discover new things. All of this has been concluded due to the fact that a person who knows how to read can educate themselves in any area of life they are interested in. We live in an age where we overflow with information, but reading is the main way to take advantage of it.