All About Me:)

Hello! My name is Breanna Davis, and I’m a 21-year-old Psychology major currently in my junior year. I’m passionate about music, reading, and art, and I’m excited to explore my literacy journey through this assignment. As a black woman, I’ve come to realize how much my identity and cultural background have shaped the way I approach reading, writing, and even the ways I think and express myself today. I chose to take this class because I’m interested in understanding how literacy connects to identity, culture, and personal development, especially as someone who's navigating both academic and personal realms.

Early Literacy Experiences

My earliest memories of becoming literate date back to my childhood. I can remember holding books properly for the first time, flipping through pages, and learning to read from left to right. One of the first books I really enjoyed was The Babysitters Club series. I would spend hours immersed in those stories, living through the characters’ adventures, and finding comfort in their friendships and experiences. I loved reading about how the characters communicated, solved problems, and the different perspectives they had on their world. Even though I was just a kid, I felt connected to their voices in a way that made reading feel exciting.

What stands out to me about those early reading experiences was the support and encouragement I received from my mom. She was the one who always encouraged me to read aloud, whether it was a school book or a book I picked up for fun. She was patient when I struggled with certain words, never making me feel discouraged, but instead fostering a sense of accomplishment when I’d get through a tricky sentence. I also remember my aunt, who would give me books for my birthday or when she visited, reinforcing that reading wasn’t just for school—it was an activity that could bring joy and knowledge.

Encouragement and Struggles

While I had lots of support early on, there were also some challenges along the way. Growing up, I didn’t always have access to a vast array of books, and sometimes the materials I did have were outdated or weren’t reflective of people like me. That often made me feel like I wasn’t fully represented in what I was reading. However, I learned to embrace that challenge and look for literature that resonated with my own experiences. The Babysitters Club was one of those rare finds where I felt included, even if the stories weren’t explicitly about black characters. It was an escape, but also a place where I could imagine my own stories and characters.

In school, I loved reading but often found writing assignments a bit more difficult. I struggled with organizing my thoughts on paper, and sometimes I felt that my voice didn’t come through the way I wanted it to. This wasn’t helped by the fact that, in many of my earlier education settings, literacy wasn’t always taught in a way that embraced diverse ways of thinking or writing. It sometimes felt like there was only one right way to express yourself, and as a young black girl, I found it hard to always fit into that mold. But this also taught me to be creative in how I expressed myself, learning that my unique perspective could be an asset.

Becoming Literate

As I got older, I began to feel more literate. By the time I reached middle school, I was confident in my ability to read and write, but it wasn’t until high school that I started to develop a deeper love for writing. The more I learned about psychology, the more I wanted to explore how different people view and process the world. I enjoyed reading about theories and concepts, but it was the act of writing about them—crafting my thoughts and arguments—that really sparked something in me. Writing gave me a way to process complex ideas, and I felt empowered when I saw that my work was valued by my teachers.

Even now, as a college student, I continue to use literacy to express myself—whether through academic writing, journaling, or even just having conversations with friends. Literacy, for me, is a bridge that connects my inner thoughts to the world around me. I often find that music and art also feed into my literacy development, as I learn to interpret lyrics, analyze the meaning behind them, and express myself through creative outlets.

Influences and Ongoing Literacy Development

What continues to inspire my literacy today are the people around me—my mom, my aunt, and even my professors—who have fostered a sense of confidence in me as a reader and writer. They’ve helped me recognize the importance of embracing my voice and the power that literacy has in navigating the world. In addition, I’m inspired by the ever-growing field of psychology, where literature often intertwines with human behavior, and where different cultural perspectives contribute to a richer understanding of the human experience.

As I continue on my journey in literacy, I recognize how it has become more than just an academic skill. It’s a vital part of how I engage with the world. From reading academic texts to analyzing art, music, and even personal reflection, literacy shapes how I navigate my personal and academic life. It’s a lifelong process of growth, and I’m excited to continue developing my relationship with it.