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My love for reading and writing started in elementary school. Once I learned how to do both there was not stopping me! I would read at every opportunity I got. My teachers nurtured my love for reading by providing me with books that were above my reading level. I needed to read books that challenged me in order to be engaged. Otherwise I became bored. My love for reading influenced my love for writing. I enjoyed writing stories in the same genre as my favorite books.

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My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Wilson was the first teacher to realize my love for reading. She always gave me access to books that would strengthen my reading skills. My fifth grade teacher Mrs. Gaddy nurtured my talent for reading out loud. Growing up, I was really shy but Mrs. Gaddy helped me break out of my shell. Allowing me to read out loud in class  helped me gain confidence. The teacher that was the most influential in my literacy learning was my sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Ford. She constantly challenged me which helped make me a better reader and writer. She seen my potential and always founds ways to bring the best out of me.

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My parents have been the most influential to my literacy learning. My mother always kept books in the house. Over the summer while I was out of school she would sign my sister and I up for the free summer programs offered at the library. She did this so we wouldn't be bored at home but also because she knew how much I love reading. My dad was also influential but in a much different way than my mother. My dad did not attend school past the third grade, so he had to learn how to read in write through other means. His perseverance, optimism, and strength influence me to never give up.

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Social Life was More Important than School

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Social Life was More Important than School

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Once I got to middle school everything changed. My love for reading and writing was replaced with my love for having a social life. I discovered boys and parties and that became the focus of my attention. This carried on throughout high school as well. I performed at a mediocre level and my work reflected that. All I wanted to do was hurry up and graduate high school.

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Becoming a mom at the age of nineteen was the greatest thing that could of ever happened to me. I believe being a mother is one of my greatest accomplishment in life. As a young mother I chose to work and support my family instead of going to college. Even though I did not have the opportunity to attend college right after high school, that did not crush my dreams of one day going. When my kids were smaller I would read to them every night and loved it because it gave me the opportunity to read out loud. I also enjoyed helping them with their English homework because that was one of the ways I supported their literacy learning.

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While raising my children I would continue my hobby of reading. I suffered from Postpartum Depression after having each of my three kids. Reading helped me to deal with my depression. Writing in a journal also helped me to deal with the struggles that comes with motherhood. Although I was happy to be a mother, I had a longing for more.

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Twenty years after graduating high school I finally took the steps towards achieving my dream of going back to school. I came to a point in my life where it was now or never. Going back to school has been one of the best decisions I have made because I am discovering a part of myself that I never knew existed, until now. My consistent engagement with reading and writing throughout the twenty years I wasn't in school helped me when I got to college.

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The first college professor I ever had was the biggest influence on my literacy development as an adult. Professor Armstrong renewed my confidence as a student and set me on the path in becoming an English teacher. Professor Armstrong helped me get a job as a Writing Center tutor as well as becoming his Augmented Instructor. If it wasn't for him, I don't think I would have discovered early on my passion for teaching.

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As a college student, I am discovering the new ways students are engaging with literacy. Technology now plays a huge role in a student's literacy development. As a future educator it is important that I am aware of how student's are using technology to not only help them engage with literacy but it to also help them advocate for social change within their own communities. As we become a more diversified population here in America, it is that much more important that our literacy practices reflect that.

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I know there is more to learn as a college student and I am ready for it! I am so glad that I did not give up on my dream of going back to school. I am also extremely grateful to the people that helped me get here. I am looking forward to my career as a future English teacher and I am hoping to have the same impact on my students that my teachers had on me.