Blog Assignment #01

 

my Autobiography

 

Hello everyone!! My name is Valentina Pena, and I am a 23-year-old American woman of Peruvian Bolivian descent living in New Jersey. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree, it's my sophomore year, and where I am working hard to achieve my dream of becoming an Artist & Graphic Designer. Inspiration, maturity, and perseverance is very fundamental to my journey.  

I live with my husband, and I'm the eldest sibling of my two brothers, who are both in college and learning English. My interests include design, arts, crafts, and music have shaped my identity and intellectual curiosity. I took this class to reflect on the cultural and personal factors that have shaped my literacy journey and to gain new perspectives on the role of literacy in society. 

My earliest memories of literacy revolve around the stories my parents would tell me and the children's books I read in kindergarten. Although I had a lot of changes in my childhood, my parent's early involvement in my education had a deep impression. My parents valued education deeply and often emphasized the importance of learning as a bridge to opportunity. They made sure I had access to books, to have everything I needed and required to study and even though their long work hours, they were always on my side on my early literacy journey. One of my earliest literacy milestones was learning the proper way of reading from left to right, practices that my kindergarten teacher reinforced in the classroom. This fundamental skill felt like opening a door to a new world, one I happily explored through picture books and story time. 

Throughout my childhood, my schoolwork and reading development were closely related. I grew up being bilingual, I learned how to speak English and Spanish, I often acted as a translator for my family and this role forced me to develop not only my reading and writing skills but also my listening and speaking abilities. My brothers are trying to adapt to the new language now that are in college, and I guide them with the challenges of their English homework. I taught them the easiest ways to speak, break down complex ideas into simpler terms, and empathize with their struggles as English learners. These experiences shaped my understanding of literacy as a tool for connection and empowerment. 

However, not all my experiences with literacy were positive. When I was in high school, I had a Literature teacher who made us read books that weren’t interesting. I was forced to read them because there would be exams based on those books, and this approach drained my enthusiasm for reading. Unfortunately, this experience caused me to lose interest in reading for pleasure, as it felt more like a chore than a source of enjoyment.

I also remember being deeply interested in writing. I used to create stories inspired by common themes from movies, crafting scenes that felt like comics. Writing allowed me to explore my imagination, and I dreamed of one day publishing a book. Today, I am very interested in writing a book about my experiences as an American and Hispanic woman and my journey here in New Jersey. This idea reflects my passion for storytelling and my desire to share my unique perspective with others.

My love for art and design also shaped my literacy journey. As a child, I sketched clothing, cartoons, and annotated my drawings with colors and materials. These creative outlets combined visual and textual elements, enhancing my ability to think and communicate. In high school, my biology class inspired me to create detailed, annotated notebooks filled with drawings of the human body and nature. These activities fueled my passion for learning and expressing ideas.

Work experiences added a practical dimension to my literacy skills. In retail and sales, I improved my communication abilities by interacting with customers, writing reports, and designing visual displays. These roles emphasized the importance of clarity and creativity, though they also highlighted my desire to pursue a career aligned with my passion for design.

Today, as a college student and aspiring Graphic Designer, literacy remains central to my personal and professional life. Whether designing projects, presenting ideas, or collaborating with peers, I rely on literacy to express creativity and connect with others. My professors, classmates, and the online design community continue to inspire and challenge me to grow.  As I continue developing these skills, I am excited to make a meaningful impact in my field and beyond.