A Reader's Memoir

Generating

Growing up, there wasn't a lot of reading done by my parents, but by my sister. My sister always was reading a book. It didn't matter what it was about, she would read it. My mom read somewhat, but she wasn't an avid reader. She did encourage us to read, and one summer she made me do a book report on "A Series of Unfortunate Events" because I wanted her to buy if for me. We didn't visit the library a lot, mostly because my mom only read newer books. I didn't show much of an interest in books as a kid. My dad only read the newspaper's sport section, and sports magazines. He says the only book he ever read from cover to cover was "The Chronicle of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". My sister was a big proponent of reading in the house, but she mostly did that alone in her room. My mom read the newspaper, and some books.

Judging

While growing up and not having a heavy handed encouragement of reading, I don't mind reading. If I have to read a book about something, it doesn't bother me. My mom encouraged me to read through buying books, but they were books I would enjoy like political thrillers, and books by political commentators. I guess the relationship between early reading experiences as a kid and my current beliefs about reading is unrelated. I saw people reading, and was encouraged to read, but I really didn't get into reading until high school.

Generating

There really wasn't a specific teacher that got me into reading. I just remember one summer watching Glenn Beck on television, and picking up one of his books and reading political books throughout the school year. I also new a lady from church who's father had written several books on end-times theology, and that really is what kind of got me the most interested in reading. Then, that lady published two of her own books which I thought was really cool. The teacher that I think had the biggest impact on me as a reader was Mr. Davis, whom I had as a teacher my Junior and Senior years. He gave me an award for one of his classes, and made a comment about my always having a book with me. He then said, "Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers". I don't think I will ever forget that. That statement still lingers in my mind today. This encouraged me to keep on reading. Mr. Davis always encouraged everyone to read, but I don't think people appreciated that. I still do to this day because it has helped me to understand things, and made me a better writer.

Judging

As I have already said, there was no particular teacher that got me interested in reading, I just kind of picked it up one summer in high school. The only teacher that impacted me in reading was Mr. Davis. My beliefs about reading in school and my beliefs now have changed in one way, and that is what Mr. Davis had to say about all leaders being readers. I honestly believe that for me to be a leader worth following, one must read to learn from those in the past, and those who are experts in certain areas.