The biggest moment in my writing career came from My time in San Antonio Texas with my Aunt Terrie. My parents flew me down the summer before Kindergarten to learn how to read and write. My family was serious about my development as a student. Aunt Terrie created and owned a education program which she made her life’s work. This certain memory stood out to me because It’s also where I learned to tie my shoe. Looking back, I vividly remember tying a wooden shoe repetitively everyday until I got it down.  

 

At that point in my life I don’t think I ever had 1 on 1 work with someone to teach me how to read. Around the turn of the century Aunt Terrie opened my view to writing and reading more than anyone else I know. When I think about myself academically I don’t consider myself especially gifted in English or a smart comprehensive writer. But from the knowledge I do have about writing it started With my  Aunt, Terrie Jones. She had such a lasting impact on my life and was so important to my development as a student. This is why my literacy narrative is based off her influence on me.

 

It wasn’t just about the school related skills I inhibited from her, she opened my life up to animals. From the farm where I witnessed and rode a donkey for the first time, to visiting at an aquarium, these are experiences hold significance in my life to this day. My Aunt Terrie had such a passion to help others, especially kids. She took it upon herself to reach out and better my life. When we were together she’d work with me everyday towards bettering myself as a student and fulfilling my happiness of animals.

 

The first ever book I learned to read was Where the wild things are by Maurice Sendak. We would sit down every morning at the red and blue learning table and practice. Aunt Terrie would pronounce the words over and over again for me. The pictures interested me the most and that’s how I initially got interested. The book is about this kid Max, who Feels misunderstood at home and school, he finds a  land of the Wild Things, monstrous and crazy creatures. He becomes their leader somehow, and he promises to create a kingdom where everyone is happy. His experience in this fantasy with the “Wild Things” He finds something is missing in his life. This is the first book I read and understood a deeper meaning of. I will be forever thankful to Aunt Terrie for things like this.

Earlier this summer talking with my dad, his sister had left home in high school and joined a religious cult that traveled the country promoting a new way of life. Aunt Terrie never wore anything but skirts and didn’t believe in Doctors. She never married and lived with an older lady known to me as “Aunt GLover” ( not really my aunt). Reflecting back on my memory she wore an overload of face makeup and lived in a big white house with long white beams throughout. She constructed a learning center in her house which we used together. I recall everything in the home being clean and very traditional.

 

The way Aunt Terrie taught me was the way every kid wishes they were taught, Never criticised always encouraged. I remember her constantly smiling. One of her most valuable traits as a person, is that she was so positive. I recollect it to this day, that’s how much of an impression she made on me.

 

Something I incorporate in my studies is flashcards.This is due to Aunt Terrie, when we’d study together and attempt to have me memorize something, flashcards is what we used. Plain white cards with black ink, constantly flipping over and over again. I’m 21 and still do this in the library to this day. From the eyes of a  5 year old I think this makes a big difference. The patience she showed with me was astounding, from pronouncing vowels to writing out small words. Education was her life’s work

 

I don’t think about her when I tie my shoes but she did teach me this loop above and around technique I use everyday of my life. Because of her I was able to receive a foundation for learning that I’ll use for the rest of my life. From pronouncing words to writing letters that turned into words, I remember it all so well. That’s another reason why I chose to write about this in my literacy narrative because it was so memorable and easy to recollect.

 

My Aunt passed away from cancer refusing to ever get tests done or accept medication. I never knew her that well but I appreciate the big impact she had on my life. The 2nd time i went to San Antonio was to say goodbye to her. She was always so positive about everything, and transitioned this positive mindset to her own living body. When she was terminally ill she was somewhat happy about it. In her mind, the sooner she left this life, the sooner she can start her next with God.  I will forever remember her as someone that had the passion to help other people. I believe the best type of people are the people that want to help other people.