Reading and Writing in My Life
Cristen Sanders
ENGL 1100.46

Throughout life, we all must learn ways to help us understand and remember our special times. We can preserve all this by writing them down so someone can read them. On a personal level, I have had two opposing experiences with reading and writing. Elementary and middle school forced me to read for points, not for my enjoyment or my interests. Writing, on the other hand, is something I enjoy immensely. From the time I was a very young girl, I have always thought life was so amazing. I watched everyone's actions, never talked until I was almost three, and began writing about my observations in school journals when I got older. I would write almost daily – journal entries, letters, thoughts, and papers. Reading still consists of required texts, but also magazines, newspapers, and occasionally a book that captures my attention.

My mother tells me that I used to beg for someone to read to me. Luckily, my older sister was learning to read in kindergarten, so she happily obliged. She played the role of the teacher, and we would play "school" for hours together. With her help, I learned colors, shapes, and words, and I loved every minute we spent. She would come home every day and teach me what she learned that day in school. I was reading simple books by the time I started kindergarten. Every night, I would fill my backpack with books from home to share with my friends. Reading was a passion for me until the third grade.

This is where it went all down hill, when Accelerated Reading was introduced to my class. In the beginning, the program was working to my advantage because I was able to reread some of my favorite stories from earlier years. I was able to "travel the world" through the books. Midway through the school year, the format changed: Joint goals were assigned, and we were expected to reach them. The only problem was that there was not a wide variety of books to choose from that interested me. My enthusiasm for reading began to wane. I loved to read, but at my own pace, and being forced to read was not my “cup of tea.” It was heartbreaking to have something I loved being misused to the point that I did not enjoy it anymore.

Life is wonderful! When I recall memories of events in my life, I usually smile, remembering the good times. Stories about my family, friends, and neighbors come to life. Second grade seems to be when I first remember writing my thoughts and stories in a journal. My teacher enjoyed the tales that I wrote of weekends with family and friends, and she even shared one with my mother. I had spent the weekend with my aunt and uncle. After I went to bed, I heard hearty laughter and heavy footsteps coming from their room. Aunt Cathy was yelling about a rope while running around the room. When I returned to school, I wrote about the eventful experience in my journal. Mrs. N, my teacher, thought the entry was worth sharing with my mom and she later shared with my aunt, who was so embarrassed! Today, eleven years later, the story still earns laughs and much discussion. My aunt and uncle cannot come up with a plausible explanation, but the event is recorded in my mind and through my writing.

I have been told all my life that I have a memory like an elephant because I remember things that others cannot. I think that, while I did not really converse with people until I was nearly three, I was storing memories to share. I began to listen to conversations and stories being read to me, and they became embedded in my memory. When I was able to recognize words, I wanted books to read. I could follow written directions from workbooks by looking at the pictures or samples. These processes helped me to learn new words. Using these strategies, I was able to read to my mom, teachers, and friends. When I read, I felt like the whole world opens up to me. I was eager to read about history, science, and especially art, because the subject fascinated me. I started drawing pictures to go along with whatever I was reading or learning about. My nickname is "Doodle" and a lot of people say that I got the name because I loved to draw.

I understood that the ability to read enabled me to function in the world of academics. Teachers and parents could read to me, but reading on my own was a way to be independent. It was nice something for others to read the changing voices and emphasize certain phrases, but there was something about sitting in a comer and coming up with my own voices. Listening, comprehending, speaking, and writing about my new knowledge allowed me the opportunity to move at a faster pace and do further research on my own. Once I learned something new, I was eager to find out more about the subject for class or general knowledge. God gave me a special gift for communication, and I will put into practice all of the skills taught to me throughout my lifetime.

High School! Finally, I had arrived in a place where I could quench my hunger for expanding my knowledge-base by taking courses that interested me. History was a challenge due to the required outside reading necessary to enhance the lessons. I jumped in and was surprised to find the reading enjoyable and interesting. My favorite teacher, Mr. B, helped me understand the importance of reading because he would always tell us that if we did not know something, we shouldn't accept, but to go find out about it. Reading through his class increased my knowledge as well as my vocabulary. I have learned over the years that when I read and increase my knowledge, the more the world opens up to me. As I read more, I have found I want to read more to learn more. I no longer dreaded writing a paper to explain what I had read. I found that it was important to express my thoughts and ideas. My opinions counted. He would always listen to what I had to say, even if he did not agree.

My reading and writing habits improved and it was apparent in my grades. During my junior year, I was in the Teacher Cadet program. I was assigned to an elementary school and worked with kindergarteners. What a challenge! I fell in love with the children and was motivated to help them improve their reading and writing skills. It was so amazing to see their faces light up when they got a word right or finally finished a book. It motivated me, and at the same time, it made me wonder what happened to that feeling inside of me. The experience afforded me the opportunity to put into practice the strategies I learned as a child. I was amazed at the progress they made. At such a young age, children hungry for learning. I still visit them, and they love to share their progress with me. I hope that when I become a teacher I can instill the knowledge and passion that I have about the importance of reading.

I also now enjoy helping my younger cousins (they are seven and nine years old) when I visit them. They love school so much, but they struggle with the work. We read together, and I check their homework. I always tell them about the importance of reading and writing because without these abilities, the future will be difficult. They enjoy the time we spend together sitting in the living room reading to each other, and they get so excited when they can show me how well they can read. When I see them so excited to be able to do something that some find so easy, it makes me remember why I have always wanted to be a teacher. I want to share with others what I have learned from my own experiences. Perhaps I can make a difference in their lives by stressing the importance of education.

My friends and I have also enjoyed a love of writing by exchanging notes in class while I was in high school and designing pictures with sayings we have either heard or invented. I dedicated an entire wall in my room to hang these verses. I always try to brighten the day of people I love by designing and decorating handmade cards that contain heartfelt verses. This way I can show my friends and family how much they mean to me, and I can save a lot of money at the same time. The verses inspire me to follow my dream of becoming an elementary school teacher so that I might one day teach by example.

Once I decided what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, the only thing left to decide was where I would continue my education. I originally accepted admittance to Western Carolina University, but after careful consideration, decided to attend East Carolina University, a school with a wonderful and rich history for training some of the best teachers in the world. I wanted to be a part of this history and create a history of my own at this wonderful institution. I knew that I would be successful with the help of my professors and my mother, who is a senior at ECU majoring in Elementary and Special Education. She has praised the faculty at the University for their enthusiasm and interest in their students’ success. They are supportive, offering their expertise in their chosen field. Years ago, I realized the importance of reading and writing, and each day this importance becomes more apparent with all of the changes taking place in education and the technological advances in the world. My dream of becoming a teacher is now within reach and I thank all of those who have played, or will play, a role in this dream. And hopefully, in the future, I can show my teachers how much I love them and how much I appreciate their support through the years and more to come.

In the near future, I will begin working closely with children during my training. I cannot wait. I just hope that, through my time with each and every individual child, I can instill the importance of reading and writing. Through my experiences, I have learned that education is very important, and to be that successful, I must stay hungry and learn more everyday. Through the years, I have learned to never just accept what I already know and what I do not know, but to learn more, and read all the information I can.