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When I reflect on my literacy journey I often think about the way I was raised.
Growing up my parents told me I was a very curious person, ALWAYS asking questions. I spent most of time questioning the world around me, my own thoughts, and the reasons for existing- I loved my childhood. I was encouraged to talk, dream, and my thoughts were cherished.

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Early in summer quarter we were asked to bring a photo of what we thought the definition of literacy: I brought in this cartoon of a cat. I read everything I could and when I came to the knowledge and understand that my autistic sister needed assistance in reading - I read for a purpose: to teacher her. I think there is perhaps a "easy way" of just using books as a main form of literacy in its very definition- but for me it goes beyond just reading for pleasure. Books opened all of literacy for me: How to bake a cake, how to have confidence, how to use my new iPhone, a picture of how to do yoga- all forms of literacy.

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Even though my major was psychology I always knew that I wanted to have education in my career at some point. I think upon my reflection and what I want to do in the future- is eventually work in either administration or curriculum creation. I am grateful for having so much experience in my past because it has really helped create who I am and shaped the type of teacher I want to be .

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From preschool until the 3rd grade I was home schooled.
I originally lived in San Bernardino, California, but in the early 2000 the city had become too dangerous to live in, and my dad's job would locate us a little over a hour away in Apple Valley, California. The best way to describe Apple Valley is "where you go to die" - part of the inland empire, it was the high desert and absolutely miserable. My only sister was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3, and at the time there was still not a lot of research conducted about that diagnosis resulting in years of misinformation especially in my and my sister's education. My parents both being Mexican and raised with Spanish as their first language were told not to teach my older sister Spanish because "learning English" would be a struggle in itself- thereby I also did not grow up learning Spanish until Middle School- despite both of my parents being fluent. Research has now proven that this was a myth especially for neurocognitive individuals like my sister.

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Going to school with my cousin who was in the same grade and good at EVERY subject- constantly liking to remind me that I was not...

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Oh my lord- I have never know suffering like I did in public school. The only thing I clung onto was - that I was good at "English". Being home schooled and then going into private school and then thrust into public school - in the middle of the school year really was a struggle.

From 5th grade until college I moved a total of 5 different public schools - forever changing the way I viewed school. I hated it. It took about 3 years for me to understand elements of competition, self sufficiency, and how to ask for help. My view on literacy evolved in a few ways since then- I do not hate school anymore but I also understand what it is like to not feel that I have any close connections to my teachers. There was a question earlier this year that asked whether we had a close teacher that inspired us - and I suppose there was but part of the reason I want to be a teacher is to essentially be the teacher I wanted when I was younger.

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Some of the student ID cards I have been able to collect over the years

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Being a teacher now I look at the way my students view their own literacies. I believe that times have shifted mindsets since I was in school and there is less of a "I am good at this but not good at that" type of inner dialogue in students. My students at least are more specific especially with the type of literacies they prefer. "I am good at media literacy", "I prefer health literacy" and as their teacher I can find ways to make my material accessible and engaging to my students once I learn what they are interested in learning.

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"I loved school."  That is the sentence that always left my mouth whenever I was asked about my feelings toward school. I loved learning, and I was good at it. After being homeschool - I had never had so much attention brought for my achievements and this was the first time I felt seen.

Looking back at this school - my parents really poured a lot of money in that school for me. It was a religious school as most private schools are and because I had so much one on one attention and acknowledgment I really thrived. In the picture above I won"student of the year" for my class - which was a odd reward now that I reflect on it.