Does literacy mean success

In Heath’s piece she writes, “Literacy unlocked a variety of doors but it did not necessarily secure admission” (Heath 35). I do agree with Heath’s statement. In today’s society it is very important to be literate and with that to have a good education. Having these two things helps when going out to get a job somewhere. But, being literate and having an education are not the only two things that employers look for. Depending on what kind of job one wants depends on what the employer wants. Different jobs require different amounts of literacy. For example, if someone is an English major then they better be a pro with literacy. They better know everything there is to know about reading and writing. Here, literacy plays an important role in “unlocking a variety of doors” and in some cases probably does “secure admission.” But, if someone is say an engineer, the kind of literacy they need will be different than that of an English major. Engineers do not need to worry as much about reading and writing. They should be much better trained in math, science, and design. To get a job in the engineering field one should be literate, but that is not what will “secure admission” for them.

In today’s society, employers are looking for many things, not just if someone can read and write. Being able to read and write will probably get you to be considered. I do not know many places that would consider someone for a job if they could not read and write. I do not think there are many places like Trackton, where you can go for a job interview and the employer will just write everything done for you. Being literate is a basic skill that one needs, but it is not the only skill one needs. Employers are looking for someone that has many things to offer. They want someone that is kind, dependable, willing to work, has leadership qualities, has prior experience, is willing to learn new things, is good with people, and is positive and happy. These are the kind of qualities that could “secure admission” for someone. Having these qualities above and beyond being literate is what makes someone look good. Especially with how competitive the job market is nowadays. Not only that, there are many times when to get a job and “secure admission” one must know someone. Knowing just the right person can come in handy when looking for a job.

So while being literate is an important skill that someone needs in today’s world, it just “[unlocks] a variety of doors but [does] not necessarily secure admission.” Being literate in the world today is just a basic skill. It is not something really special because many many people have this quality. It is the other qualities that really “secure admission” to success in the world today.