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K-12 (1974-1987)
For the most part, during k-12, I read and wrote because I had to. I remember reading the following, but did not find them interesting:
Animal Farm
The Scarlet Letter
The Grapes of Wrath
Shane -
2nd Grade
I enjoyed reading the Curious George series. :-) -
10th Grade (1984-5)
I got a Sports Illustrated subscription for Christmas and enjoyed reading this throughout my high school years. Every Thursday, I looked forward to receiving this magazine in the mail. -
Sophmore and Senior Years (1984-5, 1986-7)
I had a teacher by the name of Ms. Slep for English. At the beginning of each week, she would have a topic written on the upper, right hand side of the chalk board. I had to think about that topic and then write a two-page essay by Friday. I enjoyed this. -
Sophomore Through Senior Years (1984-1987)
I went to a technical high school and studied electricity. I enjoyed reading blue prints, electrical schematics, and things that had to do with the electrical trade. -
The Next 13 Years (1987-2000)
Once in a while, I'd read a book that had to do with sports. For the most part, I read magazines and newspapers. I enjoyed reading different sports and entertainment magazines, as well as different newspapers (USA Today, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Metrowest Daily News). -
The Next 13 Years (Continued, 1987-2000)
I entered the electrical trade after I graduated from high school. I enjoyed the following:
Writing proposals/estimates, job work orders, and creating material lists; and, reading instructions, schematics, plans, blue prints, diagrams, etc. -
The Internet (1996- Present)
In 1996, I bought a computer and obtained an account to AOL. I began to (physically) write less; instead, I'd email or create a document (Word Perfect). I still wrote job work orders, but I slowly started moving away from writing if I could. I also began to move away from reading physical magazines and newspapers. I can't remember the last time I bought a magazine or newspaper. -
Firefighter/EMT (2000-09)
I was in this profession for 10 years and although there was little writing that I did, I had to read articles, documents, journals, and training manuals that had to do with firefighting and being an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). The reading was mainly informational. -
Biblical Studies Certificate (2001-2005)
I had a friend that used to teach some of these courses. So, I enrolled in this program, since I enjoy biblical literature and theology. I enjoyed utilizing literary criticisms, reading scholarly articles, writing (better stated, typing) about the different forms of interpretation and theological debates. So, I figured that if I ever returned to school, I would become an English teacher.
During this time, I engaged in the questions that all humans ask: who am I? and why am I here? -
College of the Sequoias (2011-2013)
Enjoyed reading and writing research papers for English. Books I enjoyed reading:
Things Fall Apart
As I Lay Dying
Invisible Man
Jane Eyre
A Temporary Matter (short story)
Interpreter of Maladies (short story)
Nervous Conditions
Tartuffe
Persepolis (Graphic Novel) -
Fresno State (2014-2015)
Enjoyed reading and writing research papers for English. Books I enjoyed reading:
The David Story
Pride and Prejudice
V For Vendetta (Graphic Novel)
Faces of Love and the Poets, (Persian Poetry by Hafez)
Persian Poetry by Rumi
Confessional Poetry Anthology
American Literature Anthology
Turn of the Screw
The Analects of Confucius
The Mahabharata
The Importance of Being Earnest (Play)
The Dead (short story)
Heart of Darkness -
Fresno Pacific University (2016-2017)
Reading and writing to obtain a preliminary credential to teach English.
Book I have enjoyed so far: The Acorn People -
Final Thoughts
As you can see, I enjoy reading but it is mainly for informational purposes. I would rather watch television. I do not recall ever rereading any of the texts I read during my undergrad years.
I enjoy reading a variety of things on the internet, but this is also informational reading.
The main reason that I read is because if I am going to get involved in different types of discourses, then I have to know what the information is; then, after reading and processing, I can make up my own mind.
