Literacy Narrative - Essay Example

I remember several episodes of nervousness in my earlier school years and particularly before seventh grade when it came to my turn to speak in front of the class. While other students confidently spoke about topics assigned to them by the teacher and actively engaged the rest of the students, I always stuttered in shame and fear just a few sentences after starting. The main reason was that I knew that as much as I had prepared for my presentation, I was going to forget most of it because I suffered from attention deficit disorder. This was complicated more by the fact that we were not allowed to read but talk from memory. Further, even writing an essay about our experiences after a school trip was also difficult for me for the same forgetfulness. More recently after high school, I decided to get a casual job and save some money since I was not keen to join college immediately. However, that is when I realized the seriousness and implications of my reading and writing challenges. Although I was only seeking casual jobs that did not require strict academic or professional qualifications, I did not pass a single interview. The questions asked were directly related to what I was supposed to do on a day-to-day basis and had very little academic significance. However, as much as I had the correct answers, I could not organize them in a logical and comprehensive manner. I later came to learn that my answers were received with skepticism because they were considered a reflection of the way I would conduct myself and perform my duties.

After a third interview at the same job, a friend of mine who worked in the human resources of the company advised me to consider improving my communication skills. This came as a surprise because although I knew I had researched enough on the job I had applied for, I had realized that the problem was how I presented my ideas. I inadvertently found myself remembering the problems I had speaking in front of the class and while at it, I strangely remembered my days as a younger kid when I enjoyed reading Dr. Seuss. Somehow, in those earlier days, I could tell the story to other kids without a problem. Reflecting on that, I convinced myself that it is something I can do again despite the many years that had gone by. As an adult who has missed several jobs because of being unable to communicate my ideas, I realize that it is costly not to address the problem. Therefore, I have decided to go to college particularly to learn communication skills. Equally important, I need to learn how to confidently face people without getting nervous or cringing. Apart from only improving my communication skills, I will also have improved my credentials which will further improve my chances of getting a job after college. After my experience, I realized that one may be well-educated and have all the information necessary to determine whether they succeed in life or not. However, having that information is distinct from how it is conveyed. Therefore, it is critical to learn how to communicate.