Joeli Valerio
Professor Ewan
FIQWS
02/21/2019
Seeing The World in Many Colors
When I was a young child I was very close minded like many others were. I felt like the world surrounded me. I never cared about the issues and struggled speaking with my mom, Spanish. I would just talk English and with my mom the words made no sense in Spanish. I’m so intrigued with the news and issues but before I used to whine for my mom to change the channel to Disney channel. I’m 15 years old now aware of issues I never thought would captivate me. Being Bilingual aand aware of issues have made me a critical thinker making me a open minded person.
In sixth grade I was given the book El Deafo a graphic novel by Cece Bell, an autobiography about her struggle being a deaf person. At first I was reluctant to read it because I didn’t find it interesting. But you should never judge a book by its cover. I began reading it and it was so interested. This book made me more aware of people struggling with disabilities. This book caused me to like more nonfiction and biographical books. It sparked my interest of real occurrences.
Additionally El Deafo by Cece Bell sparked my interest in reading articles of murder cases, celebrities biographies, and issues affecting the world. For example in 7th grade we had to debate on an issue still affecting us today which is Abortion. I was put on the pro choice side which taught me to see the world a more open minded view. Writing my opening statement for this debate topic wasn’t boring at all due to reading El Deafo which also had a topic that we still hear today. Adding on last semester of my Early College program we had a speech class which we did a lot of informal speeches. I did a speech on Selena Quintanilla-Perez death. I had to do a lot of research which wasn’t boring but intriguing. El Deafo although was the first book that wasn’t fiction that intrigued me so much. This book allowed objective writing to not be such a challenge as it did, become more critical in my writing, and opened me up to issues I never even thought of.
Furthermore knowing two or more languages is one of the best skills. Present Day I am fluent in Spanish making me proud staying close to my culture. In contrast when I was younger I didn’t speak Spanish properly. At three years old I had delayed speech development. I did speak a language called Cryptophasia only with my sister. These two woman came to my house to give me and my sister lessons. It was a teacher and a translator for my mother. Our teacher only taught us English which is the reason we weren’t good at speaking Spanish. During Elementary School I struggled talking with my mother in Spanish. The words I said were backwards and my mom tried to understand me. I felt I couldn’t speak Spanish it made me feel as if I wasn’t Hispanic enough. As I began to grow my goal was to teach myself Spanish. I watched Spanish cartoons, news, novelas, and talked with my mother in Spanish even though it wasn’t perfect. I learned very professional words in Spanish that I never I would say like hechizo and majestuoso. I felt very proud of my accomplishment speaking the language from country. My best experience when speaking Spanish was translating. I volunteered at the library and a Lady asked me to translate for her. She thanked me for listening to her and allowing the worker at the library as well understand her issue. Secondly, when I went to parent. Translating gives you a wider audience and when you’re bilingual it makes you feel special like a superhero that helps others.
Moreover learning how to speak Spanish wasn’t hard. I began practicing to write in spanish and it was very challenging for me since I didn’t know how to write in Spanish. My mom a speaker wrote in Spanish and she helped me when learning how to write Spanish. In eighth grade we had a Spanish class where we only wrote and spoke Spanish. I had a project to write about the history of the Dominican Republic and we only were to speak and write Spanish. I spoke Spanish the whole way through reading my Spanish paper and felt proud. Recently I tutored a nine year old girl that only spoke Spanish. I did math problems with her that were in Spanish. It was confusing that as well taught me. Speaking Spanish and knowing how to write Spanish have made me a more open minded person. I normally watch Spanish news, and music. Both music and the news have allowed me to see the struggle Hispanics have in this country making me more of aware of topics that affect me and the world. Speaking Spanish allows me to express myself in a unique way. At times I speak Spanglish showing both the mix those two languages have in my life. I am fluent in speaking Spanish but honestly I am intermediate in writing Spanish. Speaking Spanish will eventually help me write Spanish. Being a Spanish Speaker has allowed me to see the world in so many ways my young close minded self shunned away.
In conclusion Being Bilingual and aware of issues have made me a critical thinker making me a open minded person benefiting my writing. Reading the book El Deafo has slowed me to see the world in many colors letting me see what others struggle with. Speaking Spanish has made me more connected to my family and helpful for others. Being an open minded human being shows how much you care for the world. An open minded person is when you understand others opinions and you grow as a person.
