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Professor Rebecca Agosta

UWRT 1101-035
October 1, 2015

My literacy through years

My parents sounds .. noises and lights .. my mom was saying ALI, ALI, ALI, And a big smile
on her face. I didn't know where I was or who she was and what she was saying.! I just felt that
there is a relationship between me and her. Later on, I figured out that she was calling me with my
name. Later on I figured out that they are my parents. I wasn't old enough to recognise who are
they or what she was saying. When i grew up to the age of 5, my parents started teaching me the
first letters and how to count to 10. It was difficult for me in the begging because my abilities in
writing and speaking weren't good enough. And day after day my brain began to absorb more
information. My brain began to understand whats going on around me in different way. Starting
from my early ages, My literacy through life began.
A day before the big day, the day of entering kindergarten. I remember my mom taking me to
bed to sleep. She gave me a kiss and turned off the lights and went out. When she closed the door I
began to imagine what would tomorrow be like. I was so excited to meet new friends and to see my
teachers, My imagination couldn't stop. I imagined how to playground going to be. And suddenly, I
fell asleep.
I woke up next morning with a big smile on my face, my mom was cooking breakfast for me
and my father was waiting for me in the car. I finished eating and she gave me a kiss then I went to
the car with my dad. When we arrived to the kindergarden, I was crying! my excitement was gone
and my feelings had changed. I don't know why but I was scared and i didn't want my dad to leave
me alone here. He tried to convince me that it is okay and don't cry and that kind of words. I entered
the door, and the journey began. Students and teachers were all around me and big smiles on their

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faces. When we entered the class, the teacher began teaching us numbers and letters. I was familiar
with them because my mom taught me a little about them. I raised my hand to answer the teachers
question and she was impressed of my informations that I have. She made the whole class clap for
me and i was really happy. I loved the place since that time because it made me show my abilities
and what i have learned to others. Also, Literacy as communication played a big rule in my first
ages. I made relationships with my peers in class and we played and learned and shared a lot
together. This was a great advantage to build my personality.
During my kindergarten part of my life, I had learned a lot of basic information like letters and
numbers and beginners mathematical conversions. Also, I had learned how to write my name and
the name of my country. This made a huge change to my literacy and also had changed a lot in my
personality. Kindergarten learned me how to communicate with others and how to make friends and
to respect others.
When I was in middle school age, I began to take deeper subjects and to understand more
information. I Took English, Arabic, science, history, and math. As always, It was hard for me in the
beginning, but soon, it became easy and I got used to it. During the first days of middle school, I
was excited to meet new friends and to know more, especially about science. Since science is my
favourite subject because i love planets and space stuff. my science teacher was teaching us about
planets and plants and the human body and about chemistry and how things are built. These kind of
subjects attract me a lot especially subject that are about planets and space. Also, I loved learning
english which is my second language especially that my mom is an english teacher. My mom taught
my english since I was young so it wasn't hard for me to pass english class in the middle school.
In 2010, I graduated from middle school with an 3.6 GPA. And after the summer vacation, I
began high school. New feelings and new responsibilities and a new age. This was different than
middle school and any other year before because starting from the day I entered the high school till
the end of it, I will be studying as hard as I can to get scholarship from the government. It wasn't
easy and it was full of obstacles to pass high school with high GPA so I can continue my education

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in the united states. But I made it, And I succeed and break the obstacles which were hard exams
and a high GPA requirement.
While I was in high school, my teachers saw my passion about science so i was qualified to
enter a science competition which was the largest in Kuwait. I have been practicing for the
Competition for months. The main subject was about planets and space which I was really good at
so it was very interesting place to be in. When the day of the competition came, me and others
students were challenging each other to win the first place in Kuwait. It wasnt an easy competition.
We had to answer a 50 questions exam. But I won. I received a gold medal and the minister of
education gave it to me. A Kuwaiti TV channel interviewed me to talk about my interest and about
the com potion and to motivate other students about science. It is an unforgettable day.
After graduating from high school, I finally received a scholarship to the United States of
America from the government. I felt that heaven opened its doors for me. Everything went as I
planned to.Then, I started doing some papers that is required from me and started searching for
universities and states that fits me. And I felt in love with NorthCarolina- Charlotte and its
university. The weather and the location and prices and everything else made me choose this state.
My literacy hasn't stop from graduating from high school. Acutely everything in the past was only
the beginning. When I first came to the united states, I felt like a stranger, I didn't interact with
americans before so it was a new feelings for me. But soon I interacted with them and loved the
american society and how every one is friendly and free.
For my first year in the scholarship, I joined ELTI English language training institute to
develop my english enough to enter the university and start my major which is mechanical
engineering. I began learning english in ELTI and different skills like writing, speaking, reading and
listing which was really helpful for me to pass the IELTS exam. I learned how to write essay and
how to make researches which is mostly required from me to do in college. Also, I interacted with

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other people from different countries and knew about their culture and traditions. All of these stuff
enhanced my literacy and the way I think and write.
Beside ElTI and school, There is an important part of my life where I'm knowledge and literacy
have developed a lot in different aspects of life. This kind of literacy called digital literacy.
Through the internet and that huge open world I have learned more about science and I saw the
other part of the world. Youtube is the main source of my digital literacy especially that I really
liked to learn using videos. I liked to watch videos about science and stories from different
channels. This made me use most of my senses which I found it really helpful for me. Also, I
learned about religions and different cultures. All of these aspects and part of my life have shaped
my literacy narrative.
In 2015, I finally joined UNCC to began studying my major. After a hard journey full of
obstacles I have made it to college. After failing 3 times on IELTS exam I finally achieved my goal.
I got 6.0 on IELTS and UNCC admission office accepted me. This was an important part of my life
because I became closer to my main goal which is becoming a mechanical engineer. College is
really challenging in the beginning especially that I'm an international student and english is not my
first language. I had to translate a lot of words to arabic so I can understand. Believe me it is not
easy at all, I surfed and felt lost and depressed. But as always, Everything starts hard and then it
become easy when you get used to it. Later, I my abilities in studying in english has developed and
now i can understand more easily.
In conclusion, I can say that my journey is still going on. And challenges didn't end. Me you and
everybody will be facing obstacles and hard times in his life. But it doesn't matter, Because what
doesn't kill you makes you stronger, Failing is the first step of success. Just keep trying until you do
what you want. And remember that the way to goals isnt strait, there are many obstacles that you
will be facing during you life.

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Finally, I want to say that every single thing in my life had shaped my literacy in a way, Since
the day I opened my eyes to this world and heard my parents calling my name until this day that I'm
writing this essay, I have been learning and learning new things every day and every moment. Im
really happy for being the one who I am now, And so thankful for life for giving me all of these.
Thank you.