Literacy History

    Greetings,

My name is Kyara Cowan but most people just call me Keke. I major in criminal justice however I

realized this summer that I want to focus more on working with younger kids that have disabilities, like

myself. I struggle with ADHD and as an African-American young adult who feels like no one understands

 me or how I function, I want to ensure people who are like me or similar to me that they are not alone, 

and that starts at a young age. Just because you are different doesn't mean you aren't special and 

sometime kids just need a little more patience and understanding than other kids. That also means that 

they deserve be treated the same way as everyone else. My interests currently would be making money, 

living a secure life and trying to be healthier and make healthier decisions. I also play basketball for NJCU

 

women's basketball and this would be my last year. I more so want to teach the game instead of play it but 

Mama didn't raise a quitter so here we are. I would say my interests are also in music and any 2000's tv 

show. Currently watching Girlfriends and I am almost finished with the last season. I am eager to graduate 

and get my degree so I can start my life and get a more serious job working with kids. I took this class to 

get a deeper insight on myself and a better perspective. 

    Ways that literacy was evident and practiced in my home started off really rocky. I remember my 

mother would tell me that growing up, I had a problem with speech until after I went to pre-k. Before 

kindergarten, I would use make syllables and not be able to pronounce full on words. Growing up, my 

mother and my grandmother raised me. My mom would want me to say "Nana" for grandmother but I 

couldn't, so the word "Nina" came out and it stuck. Instead of "oatmeal" I would say "Ockamock" which 

my mom knew, meant oatmeal. It wasn't until I went to see a speech therapist that I was able to start using

words. I don't recall that much because I was so young, but I remember her name was Ms. Jacky, and she 

had long black curly hair with a big smile. I don't remember being helped or even really the sessions. I just 

knew after seeing her, I was able to pronunciate much more clearly. At nighttime, my mother would make

chocolate milk for me while she read to me every night. I remember her reading "Goodnight Moon" which

was one of my favorites. I think her reading to me every night along with going to school is what helped

my literacy. 

    Playing basketball was also a way I learned literacy. I learned what a ball was and I learned 

what a basket was. Learning the sport as a whole did encourage me to learn more. I remember when my 

coach was demonstrating how to dribble a basketball with one ball, I figured out to dribble with two 

basketballs without him demonstrating it to me. That was when I learned hand coordination which he 

was impressed by. I would also say that my mother had a big impact on my literacy. With my mother 

having a Masters degree at Hampton University and also working in Human Resources at Manhattan 

College, I would define my mother as a highly educated woman, and one that inspires me to one day be 

as closely educated as her. Growing up, my mother made sure not to use any profanity or negative 

language around me, and to make sure I had manners everywhere I went. Those habits indeed did stick 

with me as that has helped me improve my literacy. 

    I would say that I began to feel literate when I became a bit older. In fact I wanna say when I went to 

high school. High school is when I broke out of my shell and was able to express myself a bit better than 

when I went to middle school. I actually took AP English my junior year, which really challenged me and 

my writing technique. During my senior year of high school, Covid happened in which my grandmother

passed from. That was a very difficult time for me which caused me to act out in negative ways, but also I 

was journaling more than I ever have. I do feel like when you do go through traumatic losses, is when you 

can become significantly literate in your feelings and emotions but also in what you are going through. 

    Well, journaling was one of the ways for me to be literate but music was definitely another way for me

to become more literate especially R&B more of a slower tempo of music. Music that has a story behind it 

more than just what sounds good to the ear. When I listen to music, I want to listen to something that 

embodies which how I'm feeling at that time. 

    My mother is my role model in my life. She has single handedly has got me through college, got me 

two cars, has always taken care of me and I've never felt that I have gone without. She has dealt with my 

teenage hormones and still has loved me beyond those triumphs. I cannot thank her enough for the woman 

she has inspired me to be even though she may not know it, we are more alike than she thinks. 

    Today, I feel like I am a fairly literate person with a decent head on my shoulders. I believe the more 

literate you are, the more people will take you seriously, ESPECIALLY as an African-American because 

without literacy, in same cases people can be very stereotypical and take you as a joke. I continue to use 

literacy in incoming jobs as well as in school currently. Completing assignments, sending emails to 

Professors if necessary, everyday conversation to authorities, etc. My mother will forever continue and 

inspire me to have better literacy when conducting yourself and speaking to others.