#2 - Who I Am

Growing up, I did not always consider myself a reader. I never felt pulled toward the material we read in class or the writing assignments we were given. I realized that feeling primarily stemmed from there rarely being room for exploration as a student. It wasn’t until I entered high school that I discovered the vast landscape of the book world and all that it offered to someone like me, who yearned for a place I could escape to (even in my imagination). I found that there was so much more to reading than I thought, with endless genres that I had never even considered. It was a turning point for me and I somewhat owe it all to my English and History teacher. They encouraged students to seek out the topics that interested them most when choosing novels, and more importantly they tried to instill in students a mindset that reminded them that the possibilities are endless.

That mindset has shaped my perspective when it comes to reading and writing, especially in terms of how I encourage others to try it out. I truly believe reading can be an enjoyable thing for many people if they find the genre that suits them. I was made to read classic novels all throughout school, which I have come to adore, but they are not always my first choice. I found that I appreciate nearly all genres but historical fiction and fantasy will always remain at the top for me. I just had to do a bit of trial and error to see what I enjoyed. Beyond the average novel, I am also an avid graphic novel reader, which is another category of reading that seems to be overlooked but could really be utilized. 

Encouraging others to foster an appreciation for the written word is something that I anticipate most when envisioning my future as an English teacher. Even if that appreciation starts out small, I look forward to simply introducing all that reading and writing has to offer, especially as someone who did not start out fully appreciating it either.

Anyway, here's a collage showing who I am as a reader that I made using Canva!