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Zachary White Jessie Carty English 1101 4 December 2013 From Letters to Literature: My Life in Literacy Throughout elementary school, I enjoyed many activities such as drawing and free writing, particularly short stories. Looking back, I realize how amazing the mind of a child is. The tales I spun were inspired and creative, although most likely lacking form. One I recall to this day is one I was very proud to share at show and tell. It was about a time traveler, lost and displaced in a land full of dinosaurs, separated from that which delivered him there, being hunted by cold blooded monsters. It was action packed, full of plot twists and suspense, but most importantly I remember thoroughly enjoying writing it. The ability to read and write is one of the first skills instilled in us during our education. However, in my opinion, to call one literate at this point would be a mistake. You must not only be able to read the words, but be able to take in the ideas buried within them, and similarly you must be able to convey your own feelings and thoughts through writing. This is a skill that I assume takes many people years to acquire, and yet still the entirety of their lives to improve upon, as is the case when it comes to me. Unfortunately for that child, the next decade of curriculum was not so keen on developing creativity when it comes to writing. It was all about form and structure, doing things the right way, as opposed to the way that would leave our young minds wanting more. After

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years of prompts and research and being forced to write on subjects I honestly had no interest in, that youthful creativity that made crafting stories enjoyable evaporated, and now I look at writing as a chore, as merely something I must do. However, I suppose whenever something is lost, something is gained in its place. Although my drive to create is gone, I have new skills for the opposite end of the process. I have learned how to analyze, I have learned how to interpret, and I have learned how to think. I can take the messages that those who still possess the gift of creation craft into whatever they choose and not only hear and receive these messages but understand them, in a way I could never do as a child. While reading up to this point, you may have started to think that I despise the education I was given for depriving me of some great opportunity or cherished ability, but this isnt the case at all. Although I look fondly back at those times and at the skills that brought much joy to me in the past, as I stated earlier, it has been replaced by a foundation that I have been able to build great things upon, in a relative sense. Some people use their literate fingers to contribute towards education, whether it is reading or writing. However, just as I used to write about faraway lands and distant times, I use my new skills to escape the here and now in different ways, whether it is through works of literature, music, or other forms of media. This is probably why my favorite genre is one that is rooted farthest from reality; Science Fiction. Firefly may seem like just another space drama, but I see it as an entertaining portrayal of the Wild West, as space cowboys plot their course into an uncharted and unforgiving galaxy as the threat of advancement and progression slowly encroach upon their way of life. Star Wars may seem like a fancy display of special effects to

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some, but to me its a commentary on imperialism, chock full of symbology representing tribulations from our past: the story of how Hitler (the Emperor) persecuted the Jews (the Jedi), and the instability of governments and the ability for an evil to be toppled and replaced by something far worse. Ideas like these are exclusive to the mind I developed as an adult, the mind that has been taught to think. A premise that has become clear to me now is the purpose of writing. In school they teach you that it can be surmised into three categories: to inform, to entertain, or to persuade. But, in reality, all writing, first and foremost, serves one purpose: communication. It is a communication that can cross infinites spans of time and space, and can reach a volume of people unmatched by any other form. By using the skills that years of schooling have ingrained into me, I have the key to decipher the voice inside every work. Music is no longer simply entertainment, but a concoction of emotions and thoughts designed to send a message. Novels are comprised of symbols, movies are made of metaphors, and pictures are truly worth a thousand words. Through this, I guess you could say I have matured as a literate person. Although the mind of a child is a wonderful thing, their ability to dig under the surface, to catch ideas floating just outside the obvious is null, and my own ability to do the same is far from reaching its peak.