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Read to as a baby
My dad was not big on reading, but my mom loved reading. Green Eggs and Ham was her favorite Dr. Seuss book, and I was read a lot of his work at a young age. -
Learning to read
I learned how to read before officially starting school. My mom and my aunts played a huge role in this. -
Excelling in class
I remember being in 2nd grade; my classmates would be called up in groups of 5 or 6 to read together at a table with our teacher. She did not spend a whole lot of time with me on this, as I was pronouncing every word in our books correctly already. -
Harry Potter!
I was in 4th grade when I first read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I attribute that series with single-handedly piquing my interest in reading, something that is still prevalent in me even in adulthood. -
Excelling still
In 6th grade, I was placed into all regular classes initially. My reading teacher had a book checkout system that allowed for students to take home books from her room and read them. I was reading a book of hers every day or two, which prompted her to talk to administration and get me bumped into accelerated classes. Thanks, Mrs. Nelson! -
Restriction
I was grounded a lot as a teenager. Despite excelling in school, I told little white lies about doing homework or laundry which my parents (understandably) found aggravating. One of the things I was allowed to do while grounded was read. It was while I was grounded that I read my favorite book to date: "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer -
The Crucible
My junior year of high school, we read The Crucible in my English Honors class. The reading of this play is what got me into the behavioral sciences, as well as fascinating me in the Salem Witch Trials on a general level. Side note: I was actually in my high school theater's production of The Crucible as Judge Hathorne as a senior -
The Raven
It was my Junior year of high school that I first read "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe. This poem is still my favorite to this day, and I actually intend to get something similar to the image utilized for this event as a tattoo. Some of the things I read can have the most profound impact on me! -
Skimming
The beginning of my senior year saw me begin to skim read, unfortunately. I was no longer reading for fun or for mastery, but rather simply to draw out information and use it as needed. This is a sad skill to have to use, and one that I am not proud to admit that I still use to this day. -
Mysteries Galore!
My aunt bought me a book as a spur-of-the-moment gift my senior year of high school. This book, "Dead Center" by David Rosenfelt, actually led me to reading and actively following the series. To this day, this series by Rosenfelt is my favorite mystery book series and is what I credit with piquing my interest in the genre. -
Now...
I primarily read mystery books, history works, and textbooks for classes. I still love the mystery series from Rosenfelt, but my favorite thing to read about is World War II/The Holocaust history. (I credit this fascination with my reading of Elie Wiesel's "Night" my junior year of high school.)
