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No Books
I grew up poor and was not read to as a child. This is an important part of my history because it created a struggle and a foundational gap between my peers and me. I was well below grade level and rarely attended school. This gap is often seen in ELL. -
Meeting Standards
I no longer needed to be in the resource room by the end of 2002. The school had done an amazing job closing the achievment gap and teaching me to read. -
New Beginnings
I moved to Maryland to live with my grandmother. The school immediately noticed how behind I was and began to help me. -
Reading Is Fun
I began reading books at home. We would go to Goodwill every week to get a new book. This transition is important because I truly learned to love reading. -
The Library
My grandma got a new job and I had no one to pick me up from school. I walked to the library every day where I began to read more advanced material for young adults and teens. I believe access to books is vital! -
A Child Called It
This book was the first book I sat down and read cover to cover. It introduced me to the world of nonfiction and tragedy, which became my go-to subjects of interest. -
Summer Reading Program
At the end of 7th grade I began to volunteer for the summer reading program. There were many boring hours with no customers where I would begin reading books from the nonfiction/biography/psychology section. I learned more from these books that I would at any point in my life. -
Standardized Testing
In Eighth grade, I received the highest grade on standardized writing tests. I was reading at a 12th grade level. I was the best and most efficient at speed reading. I had made amazing progress in 6 years. -
Advanced Placement/ Salutatorian
In all of my high school years, I was in Honors and AP courses for reading and math. I made straight A's and graduated second in my class. I never felt like I worked hard because I truly loved reading and learning. -
Cravings
As an adult with two jobs, school, and two kids, I never have time to read. Yet, I am constantly craving a new book. The love I have for reading will never go away. I am okay with people calling me crazy when I say, "I don't watch TV. I read."
