For me, the definition of literacy has grown and changed over the years. I viewed literacy simply as the ability to read and write; however, over time I began to realize that literacy is a complex process that involves deciphering and finding meaning in a piece of text. Like many American children, I formally learned about literacy through Dr. Seuss. In my journey there was a life before Green Eggs & Ham and a life after. From being in kindergarten, living in Utah, and finally moving back to Las Vegas after my parents got back together. Crossing the threshold of literacy was the first step on a journey I would continue to travel. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay My earliest memory of literacy dates back to spending time with my mother reading various books ranging from Green Eggs & Ham to the Book of Mormon. I enjoyed these books, but I appreciated more the special moments I shared with my mother as we read. I don't remember much about our reading sessions, but I'm sure I was fascinated by the fun images of Green Eggs & Ham and in awe of some of the Book of Mormon stories. For these reasons, from the impressions each book had on me, I can deduce the beginning of my interest in literacy. This brings me to when I was in elementary school. I spent a lot of time in school, as well as watching a lot of TV and hanging out with my friends. Like everyone else I learned the alphabet, how to pronounce each letter, using what I learned to form words, finally I learned to write sentences. Phrases like “the sky is blue” and “the sun is yellow” were commonplace. This introduction/development of my literacy was aided by my reading at home. My mother throughout my childhood was very particular about ensuring that I stayed on top of my studies. This, in my opinion, made me become the person I am: responsible and eager for success. Furthermore, this was further exacerbated when I grew up in a Mormon household where my family read the scriptures daily. Many passages were also not easy to read as they required readers to dig deeper to find the hidden meaning behind the passage. Despite my Mormon upbringing, now that I'm gay, I find myself questioning and challenging the same texts that helped me with my literacy. During middle and high school, I read a few “literary rite of passage” books like To Kill a Mockingbird, Dante's Inferno, and The Scarlet Letter. While I enjoyed reading, I didn't like the various assignments and essays that would follow each book. During this time I also had English teachers who were keen to make sure I could write persuasively. They put an emphasis on grammar, which I found annoying. However, I realized that grammar is not something that is learned, but rather something that is gradually developed with experience. Literacy was further ingrained in me especially during high school. As a student who attended an academically challenging magnet school, I felt obligated to take part in the rigid regimen of taking all AP grades and classes. This was the case in AP English and AP Literature, where we were taught how to critically write a poem or essay, as well as how to analyze a passage and form an analysis as we read. One of my fondest memories was when I was learning to analyze a passage in AP English. In learning to identify the various expedients.