Shereen Tajalli ENC 1102 1/17/14 Literacy Narrative It wasnt until kindergarten that I actually learned how to speak

English. Up until then both my parents would speak to me in their native languages: my mothers first language being Spanish and my fathers first language being Farsi. Theres an old video that my family still watches to this day of me at the age of around 6, speaking all three languages mixed together. I didnt know any better; I thought I was speaking one big language, although I should have stopped to question things once I realized every meaning had 3 words to it. Needless to say, I was a very confused child. To be completely honest, Ive never been too fascinated by reading someone elses creative novels or the books my high school English teachers had assigned. Unfortunately they never seem to fascinate me enough. Either my mind drifts off or I end up reading the same lines over and over again because it didnt register the first time. However if you were to give me a Chemistry book I can read that things for hours. Now Im not saying I dont appreciate the great works of J. K. Rowling or the wild imagination of Stephenie Meyer, I do believe their works are an art, but a Chemistry book I feel is something greater. I believe the reason a chemistry book fascinates me more is because its another language on its own. To be able to understand why hydrofluoric acid is corrosive enough to dissolve glass, or how losing an oxygen atom in carbon dioxide can be toxic to our health, thats a separate language on its own. I think the diversity of my family background is what truly attracted me to this beautiful language called Chemistry. If I wasnt always practicing different cultures, my

desire to learn a completely new one would not have been as great. When it comes to my desire for Chemistry, I would say I owe it to my family. My intent for this Literacy Narrative is not to draw attention to the Chemistry book itself, but the true meaning it holds for me. My family background is what aids my passion for this book and how I look at the subject as a fourth language which I have the privilege of learning. Not only has it taught me a great deal of science, but a greater deal of how it has shaped me into who I am today.