As I try to recall my early reading history. I took a stroll down memory lane. If my memory serves me correctly, as a child I never develop any reading habits so its kind of difficult for me to write about books that were important to me or give any impact on me.
I don't know why books does not interest me at that time as i dread reading or having to go to the library when Mrs. Lee, my English teacher asks us to pick up a book and read to share with the class the next day. What I will always do to get out of reading the whole book was I'll read the synopsis of the book, and if I still cant understand the story I'll just scheme through the book. Jumping of one chapter to another chapter until I understand what the story is all about. When Mrs. Lee would call my name to talk about the book that I have chosen to share with the class my palms would always sweat, but inspite of all that I still manage to make my story interesting adding things here and there just to add a little "umph" to the story. (hmm..maybe that's where my passion for storytelling came about?!!i dunno..) but, to my surprise they didnt even notice that I was bluffing throughout the story, except for one person (you guess it) which is Mrs. Lee. I could tell that she wasn't at all please with my storytelling as she can smell my sweat from across the room.
Yes, i got into trouble (BIG TIME). You would not believe how I was punish and how Mrs. Lee helped develop my interest for reading came about.
Mrs. Lee is a type of person who is very devoted to her work. She loves challenges that comes her way and how she dealt with me was to take me as a challenge to her. A stubborn student who does not like to read!! So that is when my whole interest in books and reading came about.
Mrs. Lee introduce a reading project to the school board. There would be a card that invovles the student and their parents to participate. Students would take a book home everyday and read to their parents, and the parents would tick of one of three colums that said 'i can read this book with help', 'i can read this book by myself', or 'i can't read this book'. And they would sign the form and give it back to the teacher. Once the evaluation card was completed, students were given a card (achievement card) that marks the progress of the student. Whoever has the highest number of achievement cards, they would be recognise to the whole school as 'student of the month' and would be treated for pizza by the school. The best part was, if you were student of the month for 5 month, you would be receiving the 'citizenship award' which is presented to you by the Mayor of the city and you will receive a medal for it. That's what drives me to read and read until I manage to get that special award. I was the first asian to get that award in my school and until today my name is at the plague at that school...*sigh*... Those were the days!!
The first book that Ive picked up that really had an impact on me was the book called Charlotte's Web by E. B. (Elwyn Brooks) White, the reason for this is that it was the book that I happened to pick out randomly at the library. Which got me in trouble with Mrs. Lee. And which "spark" my interest in reading comes about. And without that book, I don't think that my interest in reading would develop until today, and despite of all the history that Ive gone through with reading a book, I would say that it was all worth it at the end.
And I owe it all to Mrs. Lee.
"Every true genius is bound to be naive."
-Friedrich Schiller
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