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Young Learner
At 2 years old, I could write all the letters of my name (not near each other, or in order from left to write). But I am told it was impressive for a 2-year-old. -
Story Time!
From when I was around 4 to when I was around 12, my mom would read to my sister and I before bed. We read The Chronicles of Narnia, biographies, etc. When I was in middle school, we continued the tradition by listening to a few chapters of To Kill A Mockingbird aloud together before bed. -
Library Summer Reading Program
When I was 4, I started participating in the Summer Reading Proram at the Howard County Library. I loved reading and getting prizes for each book I read. My sister and I were gold-star participants year after year. -
Teaching Reading
I remember being around 4 years old, and being paired with a younger preschool student in order to help her learn how to recognize the letters in her name. Looking back, I realize that I was very young to be teaching reading (and now my family has a good laugh about the fact that I taught at age 4), but it was a strength of mine when I was young! -
What?
My fourth-grade year, I took an elementary-level biology class. It was enjoyable, and I still remember activities we did in that class. However, the textbook was way too advanced for my age, and I remember being discouraged because I couldn't understand it. I don't know whether that class significantly discouraged my love of reading, but I know that it was not a pleasant time in my literary history. -
Read the Summer Away
The summer after my 5th grade year, I read so much, my mom had to force me to go outside and get my body moving! Fortunately, she highly values reading as well as exercise, so she never discouraged me from reading. I absolutely loved reading, and breezed through so many books. To this day, I have enjoyable memories from that summer and all the worlds I "traveled to" through books. -
First Literature Class
My first literature class was in 8th or 9th grade. We read "Amusing Ourselves to Death" and a book about a Jewish community in New York City. I remember complaining about it a lot, and the class wasn't that well designed. I enjoyed it a little. -
Second (Glorious) Literature Class
The second literature class I took was in 11th grade. It was 19th Century World Literature. Wow, was that class a game-changer! We read and (thoroughly!) studied Pride and Prejudice, Les Miserables, The Scarlet Letter, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Great Expectations, and Crime and Punishment, as well as a boatload of poetry. I fell in love with literature during that class. -
Change Your Life
In 11th grade, I was assigned to write a research paper. I chose to write about the opinions non-Christians have of Christians, as I am a Christian, and I wanted to explore the research that has been conducted on interfaith opinions/relationships, etc. I stumbled upon multiple books that were beyond excellent and not only shaped my paper, but also my views on multiple topics! I realized then that reading can be of intense personal benefit to me and began to love it more. -
Currently...
Currently, I would consider myself a lover of classic literature, and of books in general. I have learned so much throughout my life through books, and I realized recently that I learn especially well through fiction (novels). This class will be so fun!