Third Draft Oct.

21, 2013

Stepping Stones along My Path

-by Caleb M. Frost

I glance down at the schedule in my hand. English 111, room 2206, I read to myself as I walk down the hall toward the open door. As I enter the room full of students, I realize that ten years ago neither I nor my parents would have ever thought I would be here. I find a seat near the front of the room and there, in the few minutes before class, I pause to remember the stepping stones that have led me to this place. Think about crossing a river by only stepping on rocks that are above the water. As you stand there it becomes obvious how important the decision of choosing that first stone is. Inevitably that first step will influence the remaining steps you take in crossing the river. It was the same for me. Because of my parents Christian beliefs they decided to homeschool me and this was a big step in the right direction. Not only did this shelter me from possible bad influences, but it also preserved me from giving up learning as I struggled to read and write. You see, as a child I was what most people call dyslexic. I had a very poor phonological awareness coupled with a weak memory. To make matters worse I also easily got the beginnings and endings of words mixed-up, as if my brain liked flipping words whenever it got a chance. I am also a visual type of person. In order to understand something I need to see it, either as an actual picture or a mental image. All of this, along with the fact that I communicate most naturally through speech, has led me to become very easily frustrated with sit down Literacies. One example stands out so clearly in my mind of how I used to struggle when I started learning to read.

If I close my eyes I can still see it all again-the whole scene. It was a plain room with white walls on three of its sides. The fourth opened into the dining room. Two sets of double windows along the walls let in the splendors of the outside world. The morning light poured down onto the pages of the book in my mothers lap. Beside her kind and loving figure I sat, partly slouched, arms folded across my chest as I stared at the book in front of me. I wanted to sound out the words in front of me but it seemed like the whole page swam before my eyes. The more I tried to concentrate the more confused and jumbled up it seemed, and the louder the voices of the outside world called me. For a moment I sat there starting at the golden shaft of light that poured down on the book and then with renewed effort I set to work again at solving the mysteries of the three letter words on the page. CC-AC-A-TTAC? I said as I slouched further down. Not quite, my mom said, Try it again. I looked down at the page again in disappointment as a cloud blotted out the sunrays that fell across the page. CC-AC-A-TCCAA-T CAT! I said with joy, Cat. I then started again from the beginning, The catS ATSSS-RRR-AAA-TSS-RR-UUU? in despair I looked up at my mom. Caleb, she said, Dont go so fast. Slow down and only say the letters that are actually a part of the word. What does the first letter say? I bent over the book again. SSS, as in Savior I said as I remembered the word for the S flash card. Ok, mom continued, what does the next letter say?

AAA. Like in what? she probed. I bent over the book a little further, AAA, as in aapple. Now combined the S and A sounds with the last letter T. SSS-AAA-T SSAA-T SAT. Well done, mom encouraged, now read the next two words. You should know them. o-nTTHH-eon theB-O-XBOX. I can read it I exclaimed. The kitten sat on the box. Mom smiled, Look again and make sure you are only reading the words that are in the sentence. With a puzzled look on my face I looked down at the page again. THE CCAATOh, The cat sat on the box, not a kitten. Good job, mom said, youve got it. So how did I get from sounding out cat on the couch to English 111? The answer to that question came mostly through a new program of study that I started for high school. As I neared fourteen, my parents started seeking God for direction on how to prepare me for my adult life. Around this time they learned about a program which helped guide a student through high school under the supervision of a counselor. They felt this would be good for me because I would be held accountable to someone outside my family and it would give mom help and guidance. The program offered a vocational diploma which required less grammar and focused more on the basics. With the counselors help the course could be tailored to help accommodate my disabilities.

Another thing that really benefited me during my high school years was reading out loud with my mom. Reading out loud forced me to concentrate on every part of the word. With Mom right there listening to me I couldnt get sloppy or skip hard words. This continued to expand my vocabulary and reading comprehension. The other thing that helped me develop my reading comprehension was the workbook that went along with my Reader. After each lesson I would answer the questions and do short writings about what I had read. In a way, my weakness has become one of my greatest strengths. Because my difficulties slowly me down it helps me focus on what is being said. I have found that with books the class never ends. You never hold the teachers up, and you can ask the same questions as many times as you like. The information is in writing. It will always be there. The teachers voice suddenly breaks my reverie. I pull out my textbook and notebook. Before me is another stepping stone; another opportunity to become a better writer. And there in the stillness of my heart I commit to do my best in this class and get the most I can out of it.