My Journey to Reading

When I was three I got interested in learning how to read. My mother and sister constantly had their noses in books and I wanted to be able to do it as well. My mother was an elementary teacher, so like many mothers she sat me down to learn how the alphabet came together to form words. I found this incredibly difficult so I got frustrated which ended in me giving up. Not until I was in first grade was the problem with my ability to learn to read recognized. I was severely dyslexic.

The fact that my mother was a teacher and would work with me for hours as well as the fact that her job had educational benefits such as experimental computerized glasses that I could use during teacher conferences. These glasses would track my eye movement on a page and then the operator could see how to help me improve my reading ability.


In the second grade my class went to the school library where I found the series The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler. I read the first nineteen books within a month. This was a time of turmoil within my family and I quickly found that this was a way I could entertain myself in my bedroom far away from chaos.

I then found Anne of Green Gables series, as well as Little House on the Prairie series.. These were difficult at first, but I quickly had a new vocabulary and my reading level was advancing above others in my class. By the time I was in 5th grade, I had a college level reading score on standardized testing.


I strictly read historical fiction until I found Harry Potter. This was such a fantasy world. A world where the abused boy gained power. I was enraptured by this and quickly started reading all that was magical.

Ever since I picked up that first book in The Boxcar Children series I haven't stopped reading. My best friend has never, not once read a book cover to cover. I can't imagine an existence such as this. Reading is a gift that I treasure.

Have you overcame any obstacles in your love to read? What was the first book you read on your own and enjoyed?

Categories: About, Random, Reading