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Tevis Tucker

Ms. Wolcott
ENC1102-0M11
29/1/2015
Literacy Narrative
Deborah Brandt's Sponsors of Literacy delves into the forces that can impact how we
learn and practice literacy. Brandt states that a force that influences an individual's literacy is a
sponsor of literacy. A sponsor could be an influential person, the culture you were brought up in,
the race you belong to, the language you communicate with, the location you grew up in, the
amount of technology you had access to, and local, and world, politics that had an impact on you
(Brandt 167). But everyones road to literacy is vastly different. I am very fortunate to say that I
had a very well-maintained road, with few bumps, and a variety of resources along the way, but
even then, I had some challenges in obtaining my literacy. Regardless, I believe that access to
the right materials and being surrounded by people who want to see you succeed is the key to
obtaining literacy.
I will start out by saying I could not have possibly picked a better place to grow up. I
was raised in the small town of Oviedo, Florida (which is about five minutes away from UCF).
My family, like many others, moved here because of the great schools, low crime rates, and laidback suburban lifestyle. Even though it may seem I was set up for success from the start, a lot
more goes into developing your literacy than where you go to school.
My parents are both very smart, hardworking individuals. Neither of them went on to get
a college degree, but that doesnt define who they are. They have worked for everything they
have. Sometimes it is tough for them to get to the next paycheck, but they always make it work.

Having two parents without a college education may seem like a negative literacy sponsor for
me, but I think it is the total opposite. They hope I dont have to worry about money and when
the next paycheck is, and want a better life for me. They made sure I understood the importance
of school. My mom started reading to me while I was still in the womb and throughout my
childhood. My bedroom had a bookcase in it. Each book contained something new for me to
learn, a new adventure for me to go on. As a child, there was nothing I loved more than reading.
I was given all of the tools, now it was my job to make something with them.
All of the schools I attended in my youth were A+ rated schools. Each school had a
library filled with thousands of books and computer labs with the most up-to-date software. I
had to complete weekly Accelerated Reading or AR tests. I had a so many teachers that have
shaped me into who I am today, but my fourth grade teacher, Ms. OHara, left the biggest impact
on the development of my literacy.
Fourth grade was a big year for learning how to write essays. But I learned a lot more
than how to write five paragraph essays from her. She emphasized the creative aspect of writing.
Each paper is a chance to express yourself and tell a story. Her vibrant personality each day
encouraged students to come out of their shell and write more than words on a page. I still to
this day am not sure how she did it, but she showed me a whole new side of writing. Yeah, I
became good at writing, but the important thing is I began enjoying it. I wrote my own book
series about firefighters and began writing poetry. Writing was no longer a chore for me that I
was forced to do inside of classroom walls, but rather a form of expression I could use to break
down my own internal walls.
As I mentioned earlier, since I was little, reading was my favorite thing to do. But after
my newfound love for writing I noticed my love for reading diminished over the years. I

consider this to be a major milestone or turning point in the development of my literacy.


Reading doesnt allow for expression; you are confined to the words of others. I understand
reading is other peoples expression through writing and it is fundamental to success in school,
but it no longer was something I enjoyed. This lack of interest also showed up in my test scores.
I would always score highly on everything but my lowest score was always reading. There are
probably thousands of great stories I havent gotten around to read, but as long as I had a pen,
paper, and my imagination, I felt I could accomplish anything.
So far, my literacy was shaped by a few people and a copious amount of resources, but
my last positive literacy sponsor did something different than the others. They made me fluent in
another language all together: music. My first high school band director, Mr. Leighton, is still
one of my biggest role models to this day. His passion for percussion was palpable. He made
me want to improve every day I stepped inside the band room. He did not teach me how to read
music or how to hold a drumstick, but he taught me how to perform music and convey a message
to the audience. Music, like any language, can be written or spoken, but far too many young
musicians just speak the notes and rhythms exactly how they are on the black and white page.
When we read aloud or give a speech, we dont read in one tone of voice. We give more
meaning to certain words, we fluctuate our voice to add emotion, we sometimes use our hands to
add emphasis, and so on. Music is the same way. Mr. Leighton always told me to think about
where you want to take the music next and always make sure it is going somewhere. No one
wants to hear a stagnant piece and one without meaning. Music is a form of art that paints on the
blank canvas of silence, and with every performance, we have a chance to make a masterpiece.
Mr. Leightons perspective on music caused me to evolve into the well-rounded musician I am
today.

Like I said, I feel like I grew up in an environment that allowed me to flourish. The town
was known for its great schools, which not only attracted students, but also high quality teachers
that continued to make the schools great. The schools all had goals to have their children do well
inside and outside the classroom to help them maintain their A+ rating. These goals lines up
with my goals because I want to do well in the classroom so I can go on further in school and
eventually find a career.
My literacy was the product of a lot of resources and passionate people that wanted to
help me learn and grow as an individual. My road to literacy so far makes me want to help
others and eventually become a sponsor to someone elses unique path to literacy in the future. I
know my path isnt finished, though. I still have a lot of people I have yet to meet, a lot of books
I have yet to read, a lot of papers I have yet to write, a lot of moments I have yet to live, and a
whole career I have yet to fall in love with (and the whole literacy in itself that will come with
that). I have only just started and the finish line is far ahead, but at least I know that I will have
resources and people supporting me along the way. And in the end, I know that is all I really
need to succeed and continue to strengthen my literacy.

Works Cited
Brandt, Deborah. "Sponsors of Literacy." College Composition and Communication. 2nd ed. Vol.
49. N.p.: National Council of Teachers of English, n.d. 165-85. Print.

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