Literacy History - Blog Assignment # 1

 

Carol McLean 

New Jersey City University 

Going Public: Literature & History American Education

Deborah Woo 

January 23rd, 2025

My name is Carol McLean. I am working on getting my bachelor's degree in hospitality management, and I hope to finish in January 2026. I also have an Applied Science degree in Culinary Arts, which shows how much I love cooking and making people feel welcome. My final goal is to work at a hotel, especially the Marriott, where I can use both my cooking and management skills to make guests feel welcome. Besides school, I like to read, learn about culture background, and plan events, all of which are related to my work and career goals. I took this class because I think that learning about the social and cultural parts of reading is important for both my personal and professional growth. 

My family's guidance, the moral lessons they taught me, and the chances I've had to grow mentally and morally have had a big impact on my journey to reading. Literacy is more than just a skill; it's also a way to learn, gain power, and communicate with purpose. My mother taught me the value of education, right speech, and moral character, and she is the first person I remember who taught me to read and write. She had a bachelor's degree and was a qualified nurse. To stay up to date in her field, she usually took extra classes. 

I was moved by her commitment to learning throughout her life, which shaped my view of education as a moral duty to oneself and others. My mom was very strict about how we spoke. She made sure we said things like "who," "what," "when," "where," and "why" clearly. I also learned how to read with the help of learning books that she gave me before I started second grade. I would study Bible lines and Psalms for church every weekend, learning them by heart so I could say them with confidence during services. These hobbies taught me to be responsible and follow through, which led to my love of reading, writing, and speaking.

My dad was also very important in helping me learn to read and write. He showed me the value of sticking with something and getting help. When my sister was having trouble with a new math subject at school, he learned it himself so he could teach other people. I was deeply affected by this event because it showed me how far my parents would go to make sure we succeeded. Being laughed at at school for saying "syrup" as "serp" taught me a valuable moral lesson: reading isn't just about knowing facts; it's also about building confidence, understanding, and happiness through conversation.

We had a lot of books at home, which taught us the moral value of being curious and growing intellectually. We could use the library and had access to all of the encyclopedias. It was there that I learned about the Dewey Decimal System. My older sister, who was a big help in learning to read and write, would give me books that were about national identity and strength. “The Coldest Winter Ever” by Sister Souljah, works by Maya Angelou, and “The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin were some of these. These stories helped me understand the moral issues of the world better and gave me a new appreciation for writing as a way to educate and inspire people.

Going to school made my love of reading even stronger. I learned the right way to handle books and know letters when I was in preschool. By the time I was in high school, my mom made sure I was taking classes that would help me do well in college. I was always excited to speak up in class because I was sure I could explain what I thought. Learning to read and write wasn't always easy for me. Sometimes it was stressful to remember long passages or understand complicated texts. But the support I got from my family, especially my mother and sister, gave me the strength to keep going.

Now that I can read and write, I feel mentally and emotionally strong. Literacy has helped people grow as people, learn about other cultures, and advance in their careers. In school, at work (I work in service), and in my personal life, I use it every day. Literacy is an honest way to contribute to society, whether you're planning an event, writing an email, or just reading for fun. My mother's commitment to education and my sister's support continue to motivate me to live my life with kindness and strength.

My path to reading and writing has shown me how important education, family support, and morals are. Literacy has been more than just a subject for me—from my mom's demand on clear speech to my sister's stories of strength, it has been a moral guide that has helped me grow as a person and in my career. I am committed to using reading not only to reach my goals but also to make a difference in the world around me as I continue my school and job efforts.