Literacy Narrative
ERROR! REFERENCE SOURCE NOT FOUND.Spelling has always played a major
role in my life and gives me great satisfaction. I remember distinctly when and where I was when
I first learned to spell my name. It was in Tulsa Bible Church on a Sunday morning, sitting in the
pew next to my mother. I asked her for a piece of paper with my name written on it so that I
could copy her spelling of my name. I recall trying so hard to learn how to spell my name
because I wanted to be able to do it without any help, which I previously required. It was very
difficult for me to form the letters J-O-N-A-T-H-A-N. Nevertheless, I tried very hard the whole
service to spell my long and difficult name. I was determined to learn my whole name before we
left church. However, I was unable to manage the correct spelling that Sunday without my
mother fixing my mistakes. I began to grow irritated that I could not do it on my own. It seemed
almost impossible for me to do. After weeks of sitting in the pew next to my mother and trying
repeatedly, I was able to do it. I began to write my name anywhere and everywhere possible.
There was something thrilling about being able to spell a coherent word on my own. This was a
huge achievement for me at the age of five; I felt that I could spell any word in the dictionary.
Soon after my accomplishment, I would enter kindergarten. As you may have guessed,
my favorite subject was Spelling. I loved every aspect of the subject. The idea that I could learn a
new word to spell on my own was thrilling to me. As I was homeschooled at this age, I would
often get in trouble for spending too much time in my Spelling book and neglecting other
subjects like Math and Science. I could not help the fact that I loved Spelling so much more than
the other subjects.
This foundation of spelling has set me up for the rest of my life. It has been very
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useful for studying at the university level and has helped me immensely in the work world. My
current job requires me to write logs at the end of my shift stating what I did and whom I talked
to during the night. If I were unable to spell words, it would make me look foolish and
uneducated to my supervisors and peers. Instead, I am able to help other officers spell and
correct their logs when I see a mistake. It is a great feeling to be able to assist others, knowing
with confidence that I have led them in the right direction.
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