Narrative Essay Reading To Me

In elementary school, students would generally go to the library at least once a week to a month to pick out a book to read for independent reading. At times, students wouldn’t come back to class with a book because they have no desire to read. It would be better for students if they had a say in what the library carried. We need to understand that “children are the actual consumers of the resources” (Sanacore 1) in the libraries. So, the librarians should have student-friendly books on the shelves at all times.

They valued reading and books so when I was born, I was immersed in a world of reading. In the morning, I watched my parents read the paper and in the evening I watched them read magazines and their own books. When I went to daycare, I was read to. My parents would take me on weekly trips to the local library where I would pick from the seemingly inexhaustible amount of books available to me. At home, we had more

At this point in time, I no longer enjoyed having my mother read to me, but I was reading books to myself so I was still learning and establishing the proper skills gained through reading and writing. Books and an education seem to be important to everyone, no matter how old or young. I have learned many things both in school and just by reading. Obviously, books and schooling can have the same effect on others. College is a time to grow, both intellectually and socially.

In high school, I thought that I was pretty independent, but I still had parents asking me every once in a while if I had homework, or if I was getting enough sleep. Now that I am over a thousand miles away from home, there is no one to remind me, but myself. I have almost forgotten about a couple of assignments simply because I was lazy and put them off. I also play sports and have a required number of hours I have to be in the library for study tables, and a required number of hours I have to work out per week. This is so different from high school, where I was constantly reminded by teachers and coaches.

I received quite a few demerits that way. Today, however, I would be more hesitant to consider myself a reader. Within the past few years, I’ve read my fair share of books yet most have been for classes or work not simply for the pleasure of reading as I used to. Reading used to be my escape from reality, a way to destress and relax. With all the added stress of school work, and graduation this past year.

The privileges of a private school are a lot different from an inner city school. When I began to volunteer at Baker I was shocked to discover that the students were not allowed to take books home to finish their school work. When it came time to read a book the teacher would distribute the books to the students, but then recollect them afterwards. At Denver Academy, the teachers purchase and distribute the books to the class and the students get to keep the books forever. I was about to find out how hard it is for these students to be motivated to attend school everyday when these kids are lacking a stable environment.

Someone might say gene and human thinking are the main factors that people do things. However, environment plays a much more important role in human behaviors. In May 11th 2012, students at the College of William & Mary in Virginia huddled together around the library during the reading day before the final week. Because that was the week before the final week, many students chose to study in the library. When the library door opened, students all rushed inside, tramped, and even brought the pepper spray to make sure they could enter in the library and studied.

As a child, I got taught how to read by my parents. They always told me to try my best and sound out the words before giving up and asking them. My parents always told me to turn off the TV and pick up a book or else my brain is going to become fried. Reading has taught me to relax and when I am having a stressful day a book can distract me from my problems and calm me down. The impact of reading has been positive for me through the times at school when the bookmobile came, when my stress levels go down, and the reading circles in class.

I did not like the book at first, just like any other book I was forced to read for school. But, one night I was reading and the book got so interesting for me I could not put it down. That was the first book in along time that I enjoyed reading that was assigned to me. After my junior year, I went right back to my old ways of not reading books. My senior year I took AP English, so this required a lot of books.

Reading is not hard but it does not bring me the joy that I see others receiving from it. Is that reading was not prominent enough in my upbringing or was it rather that the society surrounding me did not influence me to read? When I was younger I used to read more. I was infatuated about the Harry Potter book series, reading a few of the books multiple times. I had a very good relationship with my middle school librarian, he offered me the chance to read new books that he got into the library and I would later tell him what I thought of the books.