The best way to
describe who I am is best done with a quote from an unknown author; “Fake
people have an image to maintain. Real people just don’t give a sh@!.” I am a very
transparent, simple person, and you can learn everything there is to know about
me in just a few hours. I grew up in Sacramento but have spent much of my
younger years outdoors, so I have a fierce appreciation for nature and
preserved wild lands. The pristine, grand beauty of the outdoors makes me
appreciate life, reinvigorates my spirit, and motivates me to pursue the
opportunities life has to offer. However, as a freshman in college, it’s not
clear to me what opportunities I should take. My future career aspirations are
not so concrete. Although I’m interested in the field of anthropology, I have
no idea whether I will continue to dedicate my studies to this field or what
other career possibilities may come of it. For all I know, by this time next
year, I could be working in a hair salon with my best friend. A few distinct
experiences with literature made me realize no matter where my life is headed,
there will be a constant need for me to read and write. These experiences made
me understand how literature benefits our personal growth.
Along
with my love of the outdoors as a young lad, I also was an avid reader. These
two interests went hand in hand often because the books I read were epic
fantasies that took place in undiscovered, wild places. Authors like Terry
Goodkind, Patrick Carmen, J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Paolini and Robert Jordan
were all important people in helping me learn to read, become a literate
person, and expand my imagination. Although this genre of authors got me
interested in reading, they did nothing to help me think critically. Often I
read these novels to let my mind wander and not to apply them to my own life. I
used to think that knowing how to read was all the skill you needed to have on
your tool belt for language and literacy until I met my junior high English
teachers.
In junior high, I
was asked to think and write about all sorts of things I didn’t care about. I
mean what was all this crap about the author’s intended theme? Why did I need
to relate an author's story to my life or society? I truly didn't care what
implications George Orwell was making in his book 1984 and that
certainly didn't make it any easier to write about it! I didn’t comprehend how
literature could benefit my personal growth. Before then, writing served no
purpose to my taste in literature because fantasy doesn’t relate to reality. If
I was going to read, I wanted to be entertained and swept away. It was very
hard for my English teachers to get me to produce any decent original writing,
but they were patient.
Before
I learned how to write English compositions properly, I discovered how to write
and reflect for my own personal growth. It was a beautiful spring afternoon in
2008, and I decided to take a hiking adventure by myself at the San Juan Rapid
Trails. I was never a very observant person, and always oblivious to details.
Needless to say, I got lost very quickly. I had no idea how to back track to
where I started, and every trail seemed to lead me further in to a spider web.
I began to hyperventilate, have racing thoughts and run frantically to wherever
my legs would take me. I was sure I would be one of those kids on the milk
cartons “MISSING CHILD.”
Eventually,
I stumbled onto a secluded bank of the river which I doubt I could ever find
again. It had been a few hours since I was lost, so dehydration began to take
effect. Being so isolated and slightly delirious, I had nothing else to do
except reflect. Besides thinking about how stupid it was to be out there
without a cell phone, I really took an analytic standpoint on my life. I
discovered things about myself that I never noticed before like my habits and
the way I interact with certain people. I realized what was ultimately
important to me and what parts of my life were only temporary. When I reflect
on this story, I think of a quote from Henry David Thoreau; “Not until we are
lost do we begin to understand ourselves.”
Later,
I was rescued by a group of drifting rafters. They let me float down with them
to the next park along the river. My troubles were over, but I never forgot how
in-touch I was with myself. I wrote down my internal observations to keep that
memory preserved, and every now and then I participate in the same internal
reflection without getting lost unintentionally. It helps me be more confident
and sure of myself and the decisions I make. It also allows me to make a census
of where I need to focus my energy and positive vibes and where I can cut out
the poisons that try to invade my life. Through this experience, I learned how writing
was a tool to help us grow.
As
time went on, I became a much better writer, but I still didn't make the
connection of why literature was so important to society. I could read required
texts and understand what they were about, but not why I needed to know it. It
wasn't until I read Candide by Voltaire that my perception on literature
changed. Although his style of writing was hard to follow, I was able to grasp
the satire that Voltaire used to ridicule the policies, beliefs and values of
his time. He used the most outrageous situations as metaphors for events that
happened in his time. I guess it takes some humor for me to pay attention to
something, and once I read that book, I was able to see how culture and history
are reflected within every author’s composition. I finally understood how
literature is a lasting impression of humanity. It allows us to learn more
about ourselves and the nature of the people we live with.
Literacy
and I are inseparable now. I can't go a day without reading the news, a
magazine article, or an assigned reading. No matter what literature I’m
engaging with, I always feel enriched afterward. Knowing how to put my response
to pen and paper or key board and word doc will always be beneficial throughout
my lifetime. Whether it's writing a research assignment, a reflective journal,
a love letter or a fiery resignation statement to an arrogant boss, I will
always be happy to be literate.
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