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Sebastian Rios ENC 1102 Professor Wolcott 27 August 2013 Literacy Narrative Draft I was born in Ecuador, a small country in South America. My parents worked as an accountant and an executive secretary respectively, in different, yet very successful companies. They both graduated from well accommodated universities, in Ecuador. When I was four, my parents decided to come to the United States; we moved to New York. Where I was enrolled in kindergarten, instantly. Similar to other immigrants, I had no knowledge of the English language when I first arrived. This led my teachers to think that I was dismissive of instructions. My teacher went on to inform my parents that I was acting up in class which led me to being punished by my parents. Not wanting to disappoint my parents in that matter again, I was determined to do better. However, it took a few more punishments to produce results. I started to watch cartoons more, but at that point, I would concentrate and try to understand what the cartoon characters were saying. Slowly, I was able to pick up the language and did better in class; I would follow my teachers instructions, my parents were relived. Eventually, I became one of the best students in my class. I learned how to read and write, just like everyone else in my kindergarten class. My teachers would read aloud to us, then we would eventually start doing the reading. The thing about learning English through TV was that I became accustom to seeing things visually. This was challenging for me in learning how to read, because it didnt incorporate practice reading. Since, my early school years, I always preferred math over reading because it was more focused

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on memorization. However, I would always have books around in my school. Nonetheless, I would read the books that were filled cartoon drawings. I also, enjoyed reading history books, because I always liked learning and finding out about past events as a kid, it was fun. I just would never like the act of reading enough to avidly read. When I would have to read, I would, but I would never read for pleasure. Consequently, when I would have to take the standardize test every year, I would do well in the math portions, but not the reading and writing portions. In middle school, I was put in a remedial reading class, because of my performance on standardize tests. At that moment, I came to a realization, I noticed something about the room that I was placed in. I felt as if I was smarter than all the kids that were in that class. Maybe, I was just lazy, but definitely smarter. I came to understand why I was placed in that class. The way I understood thing, I was an immigrant and I didnt do well on the standardize tests. So, I began to work harder. I started to read with more efficiency and I started to understand more of what I read. This breakthrough, made me work harder to not be categorized in such a way, I did not want to be perceived stereotypically. Along with my parents support I started having the want to do better. I eventually worked my way into all honors classes, struggling at first to adjust, but I quickly became one of the exceptional students in my high school. I started to read more in order to strengthen my reading skills through my classes. I attribute this to always having seen my father with a newspaper in his hand, and his being well read and well spoken. Even though he was an accountant he always enjoyed reading. I wanted to be like my dad, so I started reading for leisure, which later resulted in reading for purpose. In my history classes, I started to read with an analytical mind-set, making connections, forming hypothesis and debating my ideas. I became passionate with learning about history and

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all the important events that led up to our modern western society. This was my motivation to become like my father. We would have hour long debates about politics and history, and I would want the upper hand, but until recently, he always was the one who upper handed me. This motivated me to read and learn more challenging material, in addition to my history text books. I then went on to volunteer with a grassroots political campaign, and developed a desire to be more intellectually well rounded. I found myself in an environment that I was clearly the youngest, but I relied on my knowledge of history, but through continuously asking questionsmuch like I would to my dad- I started to gain their respect, and even their admiration. I began to read material that targeted a much older audience, with material that I could not comprehend. And with dedication and resilience, I became one of the more notable volunteers in the area, which led to my becoming an organizer myself. During my senior year in high school I took AP European history, which was the most rigorous reading course my high school offered. I enjoyed the class very much; it required me to analyze the most abstract events in history. However, I knew from past history classes and my volunteer work, those lessons answered the questions I had of why and how western society is the way it is. Now, as a college student I am continuing to use the same attributes of that I have learned. To analyze the things, I read, make sure I make connections, making use I hypothesize on why things are the way they are. All the skills that I have learned throughout my academic career, I use now. So What Now that I have studied history for a while, and I have matured into a college student, I finally understand why my parents did what they did. I understand, now, that being an immigrant

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may seem like something, but my experience have shown me that my parents gave me the best opportunity, they possibly could. Coming to the United States compared to staying in Ecuador is a very un-fair comparison, because my family struggled almost all the time weve been here. However, if we would stayed in Ecuador, I would not have had the opportunity of having an American education and having a variety of resources (especially, literacy resources) at my disposal. In Ecuador, I would have to worry about paying in order to be a student in a crowded classroom, getting the equivalent of half the education, I have gotten being a student in the U.S. Here, I was able to get a free education, with a pleasant and safe learning environment, which I received help, if I needed it. Most importantly, here is where I gotten my inspiration. Through all my time in the United States, I have pulled inspiration from how diligently my parents have worked to provide me, with everything I needed. I saw my parents work their fingers to the bone, when Ecuador, they would have had more of a lavish lifestyle. I pulled inspiration from the history of the United States (which spurred my thirst for Knowledge) to overcome obstacles, no matter how impossible they may have seem to fight through. I learned from studying here and going to school here, that with a little hard work and anything is possible. I also pulled inspiration from fellow immigrants; having hat constant reminder of not being another statistic, of wanting to be successful and not like other immigrants, who dont seize the opportunity of being in the United States. I didnt want to conform to my surroundings. Being an immigrant, I think about how the structure if society places students in a cycle that many cannot break away from. I understand the assumption that a Latino student is not capable because he/she hasnt mastered the language. Also, the repercussions jus by watching my family members struggle of not knowing English. In my case, I felt motivated, when in another student case, might have felt discouraged and gave up. I look at the overall picture of

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Latino students and how they feel when they come to this country and sit in a U.S. class with o college educated family. The experience is like no other, a student has to quickly adapt in an environment that almost doesnt want you to succeed. Through help and motivation, by teachers and parents, which have sponsored my learning, I was able to learn to read and write, having the materials I need to accomplish this task, and having institutions like UCF to inspire me to always do well and work hard to gain an education, that will benefit my for the rest of my life. I recently talked to my parents, thanking them for the sacrifices they made in order for me to get an education here. I also took the time to explain to them that if we would have went to school in Ecuador, I would be the same person. If we would have stayed in Ecuador, I would have gotten everything handed to me. I would have known the language, I wouldnt have to be worried about being different, and most importantly, I would have had faced the same amount of adversities that I faced in the U.S. Coming to the United States help me learn that determination and resilience is not something one learns, but something one accomplishes. Because I wen here, and was put in the bottom of the academic food chain, I had to claw my way up to the top, and my parents and my dreams were my driving force. Now, I can look at any academic situation and know that I can prevail and be a produce successful results.

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Work Cited Brandt, Deborah. Sponsors of Literacy. (1998) 165-85 College Composition and Communication JSTOR (2006): 2-22. Web. 21 Aug. 2013