The phrase, “Everything I need to know about life I learned in kindergarten,” is more of a factual statement than a cute one. Pre-k programs and young literacy supports are becoming more and more common in schools and communities because they are vitally important. Beginning learners need to be set on the right path for future learning, in order to succeed. And the skill of reading is one of the most important skills these students need. Students who do not master this skill will have struggles throughout their schooling years, as well as in future careers.   

Students who struggle with reading will find English class a challenge. Studying stories, news articles, and even their own essay writing services writing, will be a hardship. But other subjects will be affected as well. Scientific reading is a skill. Social Studies involves reading lengthy passages. Even Mathematics has a great deal of reading, through word problems and complex scenarios. Learning a second language like French or Spanish will become nearly impossible. And once a student is behind, no matter what accommodations or interventions are later put into place, it is extremely difficult for that student to catch up.   

Students who struggle with reading may find themselves inattentive in class. Unable to follow along, they may begin pestering other students or being disruptive to conceal their shortcomings. They may find themselves an office-bound discipline problem. Oral instruction will be lost then, as well as the valuable insights of peers. Thus, the initial reading problem becomes more complex and compounded.   

Students who are behind in reading, and struggle through their k-12 years, are unlikely to pursue post-secondary education. They will probably not enroll in college or other training. This will then limit their career choices and opportunities. Finding a job without a degree (in any field) is nearly impossible these days, with only service jobs at restaurants and retail outfits remaining as viable options. And income at places such as these, are often minimal. But even service jobs require reading manuals, menus, agendas, menus. Thus, the initial problem of being a remedial reader remains a problem, even decades later. And when these struggling readers become parents, what will they do when their own children struggle or surpass them in skill?   In some instances, a single problem can affect many areas. Reading, and the success of early literacy, is an example of this type of situation. A child who has trouble reading at a young age, can face serious consequences for the rest of their life if the problem isn’t addressed properly and swiftly. 

School learning will be affected. Other students’ learning will be disrupted if this child becomes a discipline problem. Future career options will be limited due to the limits of non-readers, and a lack of post-secondary education. Reading is needed in many places, and illiteracy can be a barrier in the way of many great things life has to offer.

There are some words that have universal meanings. When people think of a cat, they think of a meowing creature with four legs and a tail. But there are other words that have more complex definitions attached to them, with each person attaching a personal meaning to them. And there are still others that no one understands the meaning behind. They want to achieve the results attached to the word, but need some information in order to succeed. One of these words is ‘self-assurance’. People want to be self-assured, and just need to know how to go about it. Being self-assured means having confidence in one’s own abilities, feeling free to make mistakes, and having an edge of humility about your skills.     

People who are self-assured have an aura of confidence. They believe in themselves and walk through life with the positive belief that they can achieve success. When entering a job interview, they walk in with their heads high, their shoulders back. The thoughts in their head are positive ones, such as “I can do this,” or “Everything will work out.” Negative thoughts and doubts are ignored or suppressed, as they serve no purpose.    

Of course, self-assured people understand that life is not perfect, nor are they. They try to think positively, but realize that mistakes are parts of life. Being self-assured does not mean being perfect, but rather having a confidence in one’s abilities and realizing that mistakes are not the end of the world. Self-assured people bounce back quickly from mistakes, because they see them as a natural part of life not something to cry and get depressed about. Mistakes are things to learn from. Mistakes are challenges to overcome.     

But the most important part of being self-assured is ensuring that a dose of humility is present in a person’s character as well. Self-assured people walk the balance between being confident and being seen as a braggart. Being self-assured does not mean constantly reminding others of all your wonderful traits, just knowing them on the inside. A person who repeatedly tells people how wonderful they are and what successes they’ve achieved, probably actually lacks confidence, and needs approval from those around them. A self-assured person needs no approval from any external source. Their confidence and approval comes from the inside. The opinions of others, whether positive or negative, have little to no affect on them.     

In conclusion, being self-assured requires a dose of humility. A self-assured person has no need to brag about their finer qualities and successes. They hold their pride on the inside. A self-assured person repeats positive thoughts, and ignores negative ones. Mistakes are accepted as a natural part of life, and are learned from, not cried about.