-
Early Schooling
My earliest memories of literacy are that of gathering around my Kindergarten teachers as they read stories to us. -
Literary curiosity
Beginning in Kindergarten, I remember reading every single sign or billboard I passed (as best as I could) and asking my parents what each word I didn't recognize meant. If I couldn't read the advert at all, I would ask them to read it for me. This proved especially annoying for my parents on long car rides. -
Early Grade School
By the time I reached 3rd grade, it was apparent that I was falling behind in reading. I remember struggling to read books as simple as Doctor Sues, with attempts often ending in anger and tears. I would soon be diagnosed with a vision based learning disability. -
Vision Therapy
After the discovery of my learning disability, I began intensive vision therapy to correct it. Therapy included a wide range of physical, visual, and reading exercises. By the middle school, I had completely overcome my disability, and was reading several grade levels above my peers as opposed to several below. -
An interest in complex games
Also starting around the time I began to love and appreciate reading, was my interest in the card game "Magic the Gathering". This complex game required me to read and comprehend hundreds of rules and possible card interactions, with some cards containing paragraphs of texts describing their effects. This no doubt strengthened my overall reading comprehension and my ability to think and read critically... A skill that still benefits me academically today. -
A new love for reading and writing forms
After overcoming my learning disability, I had a newfound love for reading. Some of my favorite books to read were those from the Guardians of Ga'Hoole and Deltora Quest series, with 18 and 15 books respectively! (I read them all, and much more). I also began to write poetry, and was even published in several contests. -
My first ACT Scores
A significant milestone for me was receiving my first ACT scores in high school. I managed to score nearly the maximum points possible and both the reading and English portions of the exam, something I could never have imagined doing a few years earlier. It really helped to put into perspective just how far I had come. -
Acceptance into the School of Education
After realizing that I wanted to become a special education teacher (in part thanks to my work with special needs children and my own struggles with a learning disability as a child) I left my previous major and applied to the school of education. Finally gaining admittance marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life.
