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Angela Sullivan Rebecca Agosta English 1103 Agosta February 9th, 2014 Generation Y, Baby! Everyone grows up in their own way and time, but each person becomes an individual by the way their literacies develop. For me personally, my literacies today would not have happened without having technology in my life. Call me what you will: nerd, tech-savvy, geek I am just a Generation Y baby. What is that you ask? Its the fact that I was born into the age of technology, where computers and cellphones first became a large part of modern day life. My parents, who were born in Generation X, were not quite as impacted in this literacy as I was because technology wasnt quite as interwoven into their daily lives. Thats okay though, it makes me unique in my own sense, and it is all because I embraced the literacy that I grew up with. It has been with me my entire life, and Im sure it will continue to grow as I take in the world around me. I. I had access to a computer by the time I was two years old. My parents had bought our first home computer from RadioShack and it was one of the most cutting edge at the time. The first time I had my tiny hand on a mouse I was off on a world of learning and development. My mom and dad had bought me kindergarten and preschool game discs to play on the computer, and from them my literacy began to bloom. From JumpStart to Blues Clues, I would spend hours at the computer building hand-eye coordination through cleverly designed games and
Commented [R2]: Were these floppy discs? CD-ROMS? Commented [R1]: This is a great opener. We get that you are discussing literacy and specifically its connection to technology and the generation you were born into. It also has distinct style, and you talk to the readerall of this builds interest in you and your story.

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puzzles. My mom stayed home with me while my dad was in college and working full-time, so I usually had a lot of time on my hands. I feel that it is from that very first experience with a computer that I was able to expand my mind to newer technologies and always be a step ahead of my parents. Its hard to think of now, but I still have the subtle memory of the sound of dial-up when a computer started up. Obviously dial-up connection isnt as prevalent today, but whenever I manage to hear the sound on an old TV show or someones phone, my mind is automatically sent back in time to when I heard that sound on a daily basis. Its amazing how just one sound can bring back such distant memories from my past. Its a part of my past that has helped shape my future. II. When I was a few years older (probably around four or five) I had a few favorite CD games for the computer that I would play over and over again. It would include games like Blues Clues and JumpStart, and even a game called Tuneland that was created and voiced by Howie Mandel. I didnt remember this originally, but as soon as I started looking up things for this paper my mom reminded me of that game. I pulled up a clip of it on YouTube and instantly remembered the songs and teachings I received from the game. I learned a lot from those early games, and it makes sense too - they were designed after all to teach kids basic things. Blues Clues taught me problem solving and cognitive skills, while another game I had (Easy Bake Oven) came with a play set that connected to the keyboard that allowed you to be immersed in the game. It taught me about baking and hand-eye coordination. Then there was of course Microsoft Paint and KidPix, which helped to start my journey towards becoming an artist. I was able to begin early mental development when I didnt even realize it; I was just having fun
Commented [R4]: What was in the play set? I wonder if screen captures will help tell your story, since not everyone would have experience with these games. Commented [R3]: Even just the image of a kid next to a computer doing this is becoming outdated. Now I see toddlers using iPads, so its getting to be an even more intimate and accessible experience.

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playing my games. Even now, I enjoy a good game every now and again, and I realize yet again just how much I can grow from the technology around me. III. It was a few years later that I realized that by playing video games I was able to build up my interaction skills within the world. By playing fast-paced games or challenging puzzles, my ability to recognize what I was doing spread through even more parts of my life. I was sixteen when I started to learn how to drive, and I dont think I can even begin to discuss how crazy it was to handle that heavy weight of technology. After practicing with simulators though, I came to realize that driving and paying attention really wasnt all that hard. It almost turned the outside world into a big game to me, but I knew that I had to drive safe in order to do well. It was also the action games that allowed me to focus on more than one thing at once and to really take in all of my surroundings. Technological advances today are becoming more tech-based than human based, and we in turn are beginning to lose our grip on control. As I grew up with the developing technology, I was able to harness its power and make it useful for my own growth. Now I am quick-witted, fast-minded, and able to make decisions on the fly. It truly makes me think of what people did before technology was fully around them, and now they have to teach themselves something that comes so naturally to me. IV. Not only has technology built up my mental capacity to be able to learn things faster and more efficiently, but it has also built lasting connections with other people who favor the same things I do. Video games are an excellent way to connect and communicate with another person, whether they are sitting there next to you or across the web as the two of you play a game. I used to play Nintendo 64 with my dad, and going through my scrapbooks most of my pictures
Commented [R6]: This is a good point. You are skilled at going into technology, exploring whats at your disposal, and using it for your own means. Commented [R5]: Technology + play is a big theme here. I often think that as adults, we dont have enough time to play and figure things out.

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revolve around that system. I dont have any brothers, so gaming was my connection to my dad that I never lost. Not only was I able to play games with my family, but I soon realized that my friends were a great source of competition. I may not have been the fastest or most skilled at some games, but my friends have taught me new ways to play. My boyfriend is very good at Nintendos Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii most of the time I cant even touch him when we play together, although I can sometimes get a lucky win in. Its not just about winning or losing when we play its the connection we share as we play the game. We discuss which character we think is better, argue over the other cheating in a match, and finally giving in to a good game to start the next round. Its this connection through something we both passionately share that allows us to grow in a technological world, waiting for the next match of life to start. V. I think out of all of the technologies I grew up with, the one that had the biggest impact on me was Television. Although I did watch TV starting at a young age, I started with learning shows such as Blues Clues, Barney, and Sesame Street. It was because of these shows that a world of color and creativity opened up for my learning. My favorite show of all time is still Pokmon, and I wouldnt be who I am today without the introduction to that little yellow mouse. It sparked my desire for the Gameboy games, the card game, and just about anything else that came along with it. I was also a sucker for Disney movies, how the animations would just dance across the screen with such color and grace. These Disney movies that I fell in love with actually inspired me to do the career I want to today. Currently I am going for a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, but I would absolutely love to work at Disney Animation Studios, or even Google for that matter. I love drawing, and growing up with cartoons inspired my
Commented [R7]: Interesting, so you collaborate within the game, as well as talk and connect over it in person.

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artwork to be cartoonish and whimsy. This is what makes me me. I know different cartoons come and go, but its the classics that stay in your heart. Hopefully I can show my children one day the videos I grew up with, so they too can experience the magic and wonder of a little mouse in red pants. Conclusion In the end, I feel that by growing up with technology, I am able to make a bigger impact on the world than I ever could before. A lot of people argue that technology is ruining the world and that humans will become obsolete, but I really dont agree with that. If people are able to learn and grow with technology as it advances, I feel that more good can come out of it than bad. Even now, there are machines that are fighting cancer, and robots that help the disabled walk again. We are developing technologies that create stronger crops to feed the next generations, and even more advanced mechanics to help us follow our hopes and dreams. I was born a Generation Y baby, and I know for a fact that technology has shaped how I view the world. Thats okay though, and I embrace it every day. There are thousands of more people like me born in the same generation. Maybe it will be one of us that designs the first human-led rocket mission to Mars, or discover more mysteries in the deep. I love technology, and I wouldnt change the time that I grew up in for the world.
Commented [R9]: I thought this was a really strong paper. It was focused. You had a point for each snapshot. It referenced a lot of commercial things, which Im sure someone, somewhere would point out as troubling, but these products were a big part of growing up and literacy learning for you. If you choose to revise (or maybe as you add this to your portfolio), I think images from these games or of these technologies would be really helpful, especially since it changes so quickly. Good work here. Check Moodle for revision details and your grade. Commented [R8]: I wonder if maybe here there could be a more explicit connection to your graphic design. Are there certain kinds of graphic design that you go more towards? What have you created that connects to this? Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.5"