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Learning to read
I had a very hard time learning to read. I was often frustrated with my mom or dad when they would correct me as I was reading.or when I was stuck on a word and they helped me. I didn't like them helping me. I remember reading Dick & Jane, Jumpstart readers, and Henry & Mudge. -
"Scrambled Eggs" first essay
At the age of 7, I can remember writing my first essay all by myself. It was a descriptive paper on how to make scrambled eggs. Being in a virtual school online at the time, I got feedback from my teacher, someone other than my mom, which was new, fun, and exciting for me. -
Jumpstart - Educational Computer Game Series
During Kindergarten through fifth grade, I played through an educational computer game series called Jumpstart. These were interactive, educational and adventure style games. They would incorporate skills based on the grade level intended for that particular game, in with a story that made these games very fun! I loved playing these games as I grew in my knowledge of basic subject matters. -
Reading with neigherbor
Every week when I was 9, I would go over next door to read with my neighbor, who was an older lady and would willingly help me read. I remember reading a page and then she would read the other page. We read books like, Amelia Bedelia, A-Z mysteries, and Hardy Boys. -
Pizza Hut - Book it!
In 5th grade, I participated in Pizza Hut's reading program called "Book it!" The goal was for kids to read a certain number of hours per week and then get a free personal pan pizza as a reward. I loved doing this because who doesn't like free pizza and the program gave me an insensitive to read throughout the week. We would always go to Pizza Hut with friends on Wednesday nights for out free pizza. -
Worth every word
When I was 10, my sister and I read all 4 gospels in the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) for a contest as part of Awana at our church. If you completed reading all 4 gospels you would be put into a drawing for a $50 gift card to Toy-r-us. We read every afternoon for the next week and a half, taking turns reading section by section. Following the gift card drawing, my sister and i were very disappointed to not win, but in the process we had learned a lot. That was worth every word. -
Weekly Library Visits
Throughout Elementary and Middle school, I would go to the Hedberg Public Library in Janesville weekly with my family. We would be allowed to checkout four books and only one movie. The frequent visits to the library helped to give me a wide range of access to all kinds of different books. My favorite books to check out were: A-to-Z Mysteries, Box Car Children, Hardy boys, and Hank the Cow dog. -
Google for the first time
I still remember the first time my sister showed me how the internet worked. She told me "You can type whatever you want in here, and you will get a bunch of information on it." It amazed me. I could believe it! At the time I was slightly obsessed with spys and all their gadgets and I remember searching "spy gear" as the first thing I ever googled. -
Jotham's Journey
For the month leading up to Christmas, my mom read the book Jotham's Journey, a storybook for Advent, out loud to my siblings and I. The book has daily readings for the days leading up to Christmas. There is a story all throughout, but each reading also has biblical features and discussion questions at the end. My siblings and I absolutely loved the story with the suspense and and exciting events within. We were always on the edge of our seats while mom read the story to us. -
Holes
Once I made it past the fogginess and over the hurdle of reading to the point were I could actually do it well, I found I really didn't like to read. Up to this point in my life, the only book I truly enjoyed and WANTED to read was "Holes" by Louis Sachar. I was compelled with the story and the characters. I finished the book in only 3 day! -
Cut, Paste, Create
When the football bug bit me during the 2010-11 NFL season in which the Green Bay Packers won the Superbowl, I was obsessed with football and especially the Packers. In response to my severe love for the Packers, I requested of my grandmother to save any articles on the Packers she came across in the Janesville Gazette. I would then spend hours cutting out the articles and pictures within the newspaper, and gluing them into a Packer's spiral bound notebook. I created 4 volumes in all. -
Line for Superman at six flags
Waiting in line for the Superman ride at Six Flags Great America, I remember reading the signs along the side of the line. These signs gave descriptions and details, including their height, weight, origin, and superpower, on all the superheros. The signs made the the wait for the ride seem to go by faster. -
The Maze Runner
When I saw the trailerLink text, I knew I needed to see the movie. After I saw the movie I knew I needed to read the book. Even though I don't really like to read, I read the book "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner. I didn't take long for me to get hooked on the story and I finished the book within a week. I loved the uniqueness and mystery of the story and I felt I could realte to the teenage characters. -
Song writing
As a part of a Christian rock band throughout high school, I wrote a handful of lyrics for potential songs. Only two of the fifty plus songs I wrote actually got music written for them and were recorded. It was a very satisfying accomplishment to write a song and record it. -
Aladdin - MCT
In eleventh grade, I acted as Aladdin in the Missoula Children's Theater musical "Aladdin". The cast of the show auditioned, rehearsed, and preformed the show in only a week. Being the lead of the show, I had a very large amount of lines to memorize all within a week. It was a fun time. -
Purchasing from Amazon
When I was looking to buy a new pair of headphones, I read costumer reviews, product specs, and descriptions on many different types of headphones. After many days of reading, I found the Audio Technica m40x headphones to be the best headphones available for my price range. -
"Facebook...WEIRD"
On the 28th of August, I composed my first (and only) Facebook post ever. I didn't have Facebook all throughout high school until this day. The reason being that Facebook I believe to be dumb. People are fake, people post dumb stuff, it is a waste of time, and rarely anything is accomplished on Facebook. My post stated as follows: "So I guess I'm trying this Facebook thing..Weird" I got Facebook simply for Facebook messenger and event invites/invitations. Facebook, not a big fan. -
Tutoring
Since the Fall, I have had the pleasure of tutoring a fourth grade boy. This boy has a hard time comprehending what he reads and gets frustrated when he reads with his parents. I go over to his house twice a week to read and write with him. We alternate every other page while reading. He will read one page and then I will read the next. We also work on his spelling words or occasionally have to write a short paper. -
Scripture reading at church
At my church, River Hills Community Church in Janesville, I was privileged to read scripture as part of our Thanksgiving Eve service on November 23th. I read Psalm 72:12-18. Waiting for my turn to go up and read I was nervous, but afterwards I was glad I had done it. -
Volunteering in class
At the end of class for ENG 099, my teacher asked for a volunteer to read, handout, collect and deliver the course evaluation forms. Nobody volunteered at first, so I decided I would. I read the instructions for the evaluation form out loud, collected them from everyone, and delieverd them to the student services office.
