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Yang 1

Steven Yang

Ms. Blandford

UWRT 1103- 006

September 18 !01"

#$tera%&- M& #$fe and Yo'rs

(t )as massa%re. (t )as bloods*ed. T*e moment *ad %ome. T*ro'g*o't t*e arena tears of

t*e v$%t$ms splattered t*e eart*. T*e %ro)d )as s$lent. Wa$t$ng. +nt$%$pat$ng. S're )e *ad *eard

of s'%* events b't never d$d )e see )$t* o'r o)n e&es. Yet t*ere )e )ere never before

$mag$n$ng t*at )e,d one da& be t*e v$%t$ms of t*$s a%%'rsed p*enomenon. To *ave o'r loved

ones )at%*$ng from t*e stands $t made t*e eper$en%e all t*e more pa$nf'l. +s for me Well (

)as one of t*em. /ne )a& or anot*er )e all be%ome v$%t$ms of t*$s %eremon&. Be$ng l$terate

bro'g*t 's on t*$s pat* of pa$n and s'ffer$ng )*$%* over t$me )$ll reap s)eet re)ards. o)ever

let,s ba% 'p. o) d$d ( get *ere W*& do )e all go t*ro'g* t*$s pa$n W*at *appens net Well

%ome )$t* me and &o',ll see for &o'rself.

#$tera%& $s a spe%$al term. (t,s spe%$al be%a'se )e t*$n )e no) all *ave t*$s general

$dea of $ts mean$ng b't $n real$t& $t means so m'%* more. +ll t*ro'g*o't o'r l$ves )e,ve been

ta'g*t t*at be$ng l$terate means be$ng able to read and )r$te b't $n fa%t t*$s $s a m$s%on%ept$on.

Barel& do )e t*$n abo't s'%* a s$mple )ord so rooted $n o'r da$l& l$ves t*at )e $gnore t*e

t*$ngs t*at are able to def$ne )*o )e are. #$tera%& at $ts most r'd$mentar& form s$mpl& means to

be no)ledgeable. (f )e epand t*at on a more global s%ale $t means to observe a%no)ledge

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'nderstand and often a%t on man& aspe%ts of so%$et& %'lt're and l$fe. 2or to be l$terate $s to

'nderstand l$fe and *o) $t *as s*aped &o' as an $nd$v$d'al. Read$ng and )r$t$ng $s 'st one of t*e

man& aspe%ts of l$tera%&. 4ver&one $s l$terate $n d$fferent )a&s be%a'se ever&one $s ra$sed $n

d$fferent )a&s. 2rom t*e ed'%at$on )e re%e$ve to t*e eper$en%es )e *ad as $ds ever&one,s

l$tera%& pat* $s d$fferent5 ever& person $s d$fferent be%a'se o'r eper$en%es s*ape )*o )e are.

( *ad a t&p$%al %*$ld*ood5 ( )ent to s%*ool pla&ed d'r$ng re%ess and )at%*ed T on

Sat'rda&s. T*e onl& t*$ng t*at separated me from most people )as t*at ( *ad l$ttle fr$ends b't

not for t*e reasons one m$g*t t*$n. ( %ame from a relat$vel& lo) $n%ome fam$l& at t*e t$me.

Be$ng poor )e )o'ld al)a&s be mov$ng from %$t& to %$t& see$ng )or. +lmost ever& ot*er

&ear $t )as al)a&s a ne) s%*ool and a ne) ne$g*bor*ood and be%a'se of t*$s ( rarel& made

fr$ends nor *ad an& memorable eper$en%es. T*e& s$mpl& )ere s*ado)s $n t*e d$stant dept*s of

m& bra$n. T*$s $s *o) ( %ame to love read$ng. W*$le ( *ad no p*&s$%al fr$ends ( d$d %ome to love

be$ng fr$ends )$t* %*ara%ters from boos. ( remember t*e da& ( p$%ed 'p m& f$rst b$g boo

)*en ( )as seven 7*arl$e and t*e *o%olate 2a%tor&9. ( remember be$ng engrossed b& t*e

%ra:& $nvent$ons of %and& magnate W$ll& Wona. To read t*at boo )as l$e stepp$ng $nto a

)orld )$t*o't danger or )orr&. (t )as ever& l$ttle $d,s dream to step $nto a fa%tor& teem$ng )$t*

ne) and fantast$%al s'gar& %reat$ons. #oo$ng ba% p$%$ng 'p t*at boo to me )as t*e f$rst

maor step on m& pat* to be%om$ng l$terate. (t )asn,t t*e fa%t t*at ( )as read$ng a b$g boo b't

for )*at t*e boo %onta$ned. (t )as t*e f$rst t$me ( reall& eno&ed read$ng. S're ( read boos

before b't never *ad ( %onne%ted on a personal level )$t* a boo. ;ever *ad ( eper$en%ed t*$s

ne) st&le of )r$t$ng t*at )as so %apt$vat$ng to read. ( remember lov$ng t*e boo so m'%* $n fa%t

t*at ( demanded ( *ave a personal %op& of t*e boo )*$%* ( st$ll *ave to t*$s da&. +fter read$ng $t

for t*e 'mpteent* t$me $n several )ees ( soon d$s%overed t*at t*e a't*or Roald

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)rote ot*er boos $n%l'd$ng a se='el to 7*arl$e and t*e *o%olate 2a%tor&9. Well &o' %an

g'ess )*at *appened net. ( soon embared on a m$ss$on to read all of *$s boos )*$%* ( d$d.

#$ttle d$d ( no) $t not onl& )as t*$s boo an $mportant m$lestone $n m& l$tera%& %areer b't $t

also lead me to read ot*er boos t*at ( st$ll %*er$s* to t*$s da&. 2or on a s*elf at m& s%*ool

oppos$te to ones %onta$n$ng otter and t*e

Sor%erer,s Stone9. (f ( %o'ld *ave one ser$es )$t* me on a deserted $sland ( )o'ld tae t*e arr&

>otter ser$es. ?ro)$ng 'p read$ng arr& >otter )as m& es%ape from real$t&. +s ( sa$d before (

)as often lonel& gro)$ng 'p so boos )ere m& fr$ends. T*e )a& @.A Ro)l$ng )rote *er stor$es

and t*e )a& ( %onne%ted to t*e %*ara%ter )as a great eample of *o) l$tera%& %*anged m& l$fe for

t*e better. (,d adm$t t*at ( )o'ld often %*e% t*e ma$l loo$ng for m& mag$%al letter from

og)arts. T*e advent'res t*at arr& and *$s fr$ends *ad )ere t*e sort ( )$s*ed ( *ad. T*e fa%t

t*at ( also *ad a mat of mess& et-bla% *a$r and )ore glasses also *elp me to bel$eve $t $n a )a&.

( )o'ld 7mae9 mag$% )ands 7%ast9 spells on m& pets and 7bre)9 pot$ons $n t*e $t%*en. (

remember t*e da& t*e last boo otter.

W*at (,ve taled abo't so far *as onl& been regards to be$ng l$terate $n terms of l$terat're

b't t*ere are so man& )a&s of be$ng l$terate. 2rom m's$% to %omp'ters to be$ng m'lt$l$ng'al

t*ese are 'st some of t*e )a&s ( *ave epanded m& l$tera%& reperto$re. M& pat* to m's$% reall&

$%ed off fres*man &ear of *$g* s%*ool. ( vag'el& remember most of m& %lasses from ba% t*en

b't one %lass )$ll al)a&s be $n m& %*est of %*er$s*ed memor$es. +s fres*man )e )ere

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en%o'raged to s$gn 'p for a )$de var$et& of ele%t$ves so )$t* t*e %onstant pester$ng of m&

mot*er ( de%$ded to tr& o$n$ng t*e or%*estra as a v$ol$n$st. /'r or%*estra d$re%tor a %erta$n Marta

>artr$dge )as a godsend. W*$le s*e )as fa$rl& old for a tea%*er near$ng *er 60,s s*e *ad *er

fa$r s*are of eper$en%es $n l$fe )*$%* s*e openl& s*ared )$t* 's. S*e )as not onl& ver&

eper$en%ed and )ell no)n for *er )or $n t*e m's$%al %omm'n$t& of t*e 4ast oast b't s*e

also ne) *o) $t felt to be a st'dent. S*e ne) t*at )e *ad l$ves o'ts$de of %lass and t*at )e

)ere b's&. o)ever s*e also ne) t*at be$ng m's$%all& g$fted )as 'st anot*er form of l$tera%&.

4ver& da& )e )o'ld tr& o't a ne) p$e%e of m's$% or do a f'n a%t$v$t& t*at allo)ed 's to see *o)

d$verse o'r gro'p )as. ( soon fo'nd m&self ma$ng most of m& fr$ends $n t*at %lassroom and (

)as t*anf'l for t*e$r fr$ends*$p. Ms. >artr$dge )o'ld al)a&s seem to no) $f somet*$ng )as on

o'r m$nd and s*e )o'ld often en%o'rage 's to tal abo't t*em $n t*e beg$nn$ng of %lass. 7B&

tal$ng abo't t*em ot*ers )$ll 'nderstand &o' and tr& to *elp9 )as *er reason$ng. S*e )as t*e

f$rst to tea%* me t*at l$tera%& %an %ome $n d$fferent forms. ( devoted m&self t*at &ear to be%om$ng

a better m's$%$an. >la&$ng t*e $nstr'ment )as 'st one part of $t. 2rom read$ng m's$% to

'nderstand$ng t*e *$stor& to %r'n%*$ng do)n on t*e t*eor& of m's$% as )ell as t*e s%$en%e

/r%*estra %lass )as one of t*e best %lasses (,ve ever taen. +nd even t*o'g* ( transferred to

anot*er s%*ool t*e net &ear ( bro'g*t *er tea%*$ngs and eper$en%es )$t* me )*$%* made

ma$ng fr$ends all t*e more eas$er. +not*er part of m& l$tera%& )as m& fas%$nat$on )$t*

%omp'ters. ( remember t*e f$rst t$me ( fo'nd m&self fas%$nated )$t* %omp'ters ba% )*en ( )as

seven &ears old. M& parents *ad an old (BM %omp'ter. 4ver&t*$ng form t*e mon$tor to t*e

mo'se to t*e %*ass$s $tself )as a d'll van$lla %olor. ( )asn,t allo)ed near $t as ( *ad a *ab$t of

brea$ng t*$ngs b't one da& ( soon fo'nd m&self alone $n t*at room and ( de%$ded to eplore. +s

( %l$%ed t*e mo'se and moved $t for t*e f$rst t$me ( s'ddenl& ne) t*at ( )anted to no) *o) $t

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)ored. So began a o'rne& lead$ng 'p to t*$s moment learn$ng b'$ld$ng des$gn$ng and

%reat$ng all t*$ngs te%*nolog&. T*e l$st $s too long and %omple b't from p*otograp*& to

robot$%s to %&berse%'r$t& to eng$neer$ng to soft)are development to mob$le development to

profess$onal f$lm$ng to %reat$ng v$deo games5 m& l$fe *as been f'll of $mmers$ng m&self $n

te%*nolog&. (n some )a&s be$ng lonel& on )eeends )as a great benef$t for me as ( *ad plent&

of t$me to *one and develop ne) s$lls. +nd ( eno&ed ever& moment of $t.

So ba% to t*at 7ee%'t$on9 ( started )$t*. T*ere )e )ere s$tt$ng do)n $n neat ro)s

an$o's all ""0 of 's. T*e board of ee%'t$oners l$ned t*e platform s$tt$ng $nno%entl& sm$l$ng at

t*e %ro)d as $f t*ere )as not*$ng to be )orr$ed abo't. +ll %lot*ed $n bla% robes t*e& m$m$%ed

*a)s $n ever& )a& anal&:$ng t*e %ro)d as $f )e )ere pre& all t*e )*$le sm$l$ng. Tantal$:$ng 's

)$t* t*ose %rooed sm$les. Ro) b& ro) )e )ere bro'g*t 'p b& t*e stage and one b& one )e

)ere anno'n%ed b& name and *anded a senten%e t*en ba% do)n )e sat. +s t*e %l$ma of t*e

%eremon& approa%*ed ( barel& remember )*at t*e pr$n%$pal sa$d a mere bl'r $n m& v$s$on. So

%a'g*t 'p $n t*e moment t*at ( )elled 'p )$t* emot$on. +s t*e last person sat do)n and )e all

looed 'p to t*e stage. ( remember t*e pr$n%$pal )al$ng 'p to t*e pod$'m. +nd )$t* a b$g sm$le

s*e anno'n%ed to t*e %ro)d 7ongrat'lat$ons lass of !01". ( prono'n%e &o' all grad'ated.

Yo' ma& t'rn &o'r tassels9 +nd )$t* a roar and flo'r$s* of %aps t*e deed *ad been done. (n t*at

moment d$d ( f'll& real$:e t*at t*e grad'at$on %eremon& )asn,t 'st t*e end of a road $n m& l$fe

b't s$mpl& mared t*e po$nt )*ere t*e road spl$t and ( %o'ld de%$de to tae )*$%* one. (n man&

)a&s t*at da& ( be%ame l$terate abo't l$fe $tself as )ell as m&self.

W*& d$d ( tell &o' t*at seem$ngl& random stor& W*at does $t *ave to do )$t* m&

personal o'rne& )$t* l$tera%& Be%a'se t*ro'g*o't m& l$fe one t*$ng *as been %onstant. /ne

t*$ng t*at %onne%ts $t all. /ne t*$ng t*at def$nes *o) l$tera%& $s s*aped and )$ll s*ape &o'. T*at

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%onne%t$on $s %*ange. + s$mple )ord. *ange. 2rom t*e mov$ng to d$fferent %$t$es to t*e man&

boos t*at ( read all of t*$s *appened be%a'se of %*ange. W*$le %*ange $s often regarded as

somet*$ng )e s*o'ld be )ar& abo't %*ange and *o) $t %an s'ddenl& mae &o'r l$fe m$serable. (

no) regard %*ange as one of t*e best t*$ngs t*at %o'ld *appen to me. T*at grad'at$on %eremon&

(t )as a b$g %*ange $n o'r l$ves. (t $s often regarded as t*e f$rst r$te of passage $nto ad'lt*ood. +t

t*e t$me ( regarded $t as somet*$ng to be dreaded to be afra$d of. ( )as never go$ng to see m&

fr$ends aga$n. 2or &ears )e *ad gone on t*$s stressf'l o'rne& f'll of all-n$g*ters and st'd&

gro'ps. B't t*e fa%t t*at ( *ad f$nall& bonded to a gro'p of people after *av$ng moved so often

as a %*$ld ( )as torn $nternall&. + s$mple %*ange s'%* as me de%$d$ng to o$n t*e or%*estra or

p$%$ng 'p a %omp'ter mo'se )o'ld soon lead to b$gger and better eper$en%es. B't no) loo$ng

ba% ( no) 'nderstand t*at all t*at *ad to *appen. T*e pr$n%$ple of 7gestalt9 $s t*at t*e 'n$f$ed

)*ole $s more t*an s$mpl& a s'm of $ts parts. 2or to 'nderstand %*ange $s to be l$terate $n all

aspe%ts of *'man$t&. Be%om$ng l$terate learn$ng to love boos and )r$t$ng $t )o'ld not be

poss$ble )$t*o't %*ange. 2rom small %*anges l$e &o'r parents en%o'rag$ng &o' to p$% 'p an

$nstr'ment to b$g %*anges l$e p$%$ng 'p a boo t*at &o',ll %ont$n'e to love forever. *ange $s a

b$g part of *o) )e be%ome l$terate. B& loo$ng at seem$ngl& $ns$gn$f$%ant or sad moments of o'r

l$fe )e %an see *o) t*at ma& *ave affe%t 's later on. + moment $s sad onl& be%a'se )e per%e$ve

$t as sad. B& %*ang$ng t*e )a& )e loo at l$fe and *o) )e l$ved $t )e beg$n to see t*at &es no

matter *o) m'%* ( *ate read$ng ( am st$ll l$terate. To %lose ( ='ote song)r$ter ?ra%e Sl$%

7T*ro'g* l$tera%& &o' %an beg$n to see t*e 'n$verse. T*ro'g* m's$% &o' %an rea%* an&bod&.

Bet)een t*e t)o t*ere $s &o' 'nstoppable9