September 2025 "International Literacy Day" by EsTefani GOrdillo

Here's the truth, whether we want to hear it or not.

Illiteracy was, and may still be, the most significant single barrier to the world's social progress. In many countries, the majority of men and women can't read. Even in the United States, where education is thought to be the future, there are still many individuals who cannot read or write. Literacy is needed to maintain a promising approach toward stronger more successful communities. No matter where you're headed in life, you definitely need to have some type of prior knowledge to read and write, right? It blows my mind, and I lose track of the many times I walk into stores with my uncle, and every time they ask him to write his name to cash his check, he would say, "Mija, sign it because you know I don't know how to." Literacy is a significant, if not the most important, part of education. The majority of people in my life do not have a formal education. I am the first to graduate from Reedley College. While the people in my circle know how to read and write, they still are unaware of the next steps in practicing literacy.

We can all agree that it takes someone to teach us in our own way of learning how to properly read and write, but what do we do for ourselves to honestly try to understand how to progress in these areas? Literacy is so much more than just reading or writing; however, if we cannot learn to acknowledge the areas where we need help, we cannot progress to the next steps. So, think about what you do for yourself to make progress in your literacy skills. What are you currently reading? What interests you? When was the last time you purchased a book?

Efforts to overturn high rates of illiteracy began when International Literacy Day was founded. Why do I say the overturn? Not because illiteracy was completely cured. This was the day we began to acknowledge that this was an issue and that we needed to stand up for a return to emphasis on reading literacy.  International Literacy Day was first initiated during the 1965 World Conference of Ministers on the Eradication of Illiteracy in Tehran, Iran, and it was officially recognized by UNESCO in 1966. The first celebration took place on September 8th, 1967. This date acknowledges the importance of Literacy for all human beings.

As college students, we are each readers and writers with great potential. Each of us have the ability to practice our skills and get the help we need to become more skilled readers and writers.  I am definitely not writing this to promote the RWC

(wink wink! ), but I want us to be aware that when you are done with college and then decide to move on to finish your career elsewhere, you will have to keep practicing your literacy skills where ever you go.

International Literacy Day, September 8th, reminds us that we have another year ahead to grow our reading and knowledge.