Growing up, Mellix learned to use two different types of English. As a child, Mellix used "Black English" in her everyday speech. It was easily accessible for her because that is what the people around her (family, friends, etc.) were accustomed to. On the other side of the spectrum, she had to learn how to utilize "Standard English" to the best of her ability in order to accomplish her goal of becoming a teacher. Mellix now feels accomplished that she was able to transform her speech from "Black English" to "Standard English".
Throughout school, Mellix was able to learn "Standard English" by the teachers speaking "Black English". In order to learn the language, she had to imagine herself as apart of the culture of that language. She had to write, rewrite, practice, and experiment to achieve her language skills. She discovered "that through writing one can continually bring new selves into being, each with new responsibilities and difficulties, but also with
new possibilities".
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