The Importance of Reading

I had an epiphany about tuition and it changed my life.It was a twenty-four hour period only several years ago when I original realized the numerous benefits I could realize from subscribe toing. Of course, I had been told all my life that rendition was in-chief(postnominal). I was forced to do it in programme after class beginning in round-eyed school and on up through high school. I had never read for enjoyment, had never gone to a book store and surveyed the stacks of tomes with pleasure, had never been to the library except when it was required for researching a particular assignment. To me see was drudgery, a occupation which interfered with more important things in life, akin eating and sleeping. It wasnt until I took an English class in my senior year, however, that the importance of information finally penetrated my brain.I realized my teacher for that English class, Mrs. Smith, was different from others Id had in the past from the first day I walked into her class room. While she looked like a typical, older lady with her graying hair and pair of wire-rimmed reading glasses continually perched on the end of her nose, it was her attitude that set her apart from other instructors. From her rest atop a stool at the front of the room, Mrs. Smith ruled the classroom with terse legs swinging to and fro above the rungs while her arms complete with balmy schoolteacher arm would wave about to lend emphasis to her words.Mrs. Smith could tell I was un prosperous in her English class almost immediately. She watched me wriggle in my seat during her lectures and saw the visible signs of upset when she handed out a reading assignment. Im sure the groan I emitted was near other clue to my discomfort.The next day, Mrs. Smith decided to address this issue with the entire class, without naming me specifically as the impetus for this particular lecture. Ill never go out what she said, however. It was aroundthing along the lines of thisIf you argon goin g to get ahead in this world, you need to continually claim yourself about many different matters. In order of battle to custody yourself informed, you must read. I dont mean sitting down to read war and Peace front to back, precisely more general reading. detract the opportunity to read anything you can. If you are sitting at the breakfast table eating a bowl of cereal, read the back of the cereal box. Take while to read a magazine article about something which interests you. Reading doesnt have to interest a lot of time or be boring.For some reason, Mrs. Smiths words made me come to the realization that reading was beneficial in a way that other teachers had failed to do.I took her advice. I began by reading the back of the cereal box while eating my breakfast later that calendar week (and Trix, by the way, has the best reading material, although Capn cranch comes in a close second). I started reading newspaper articles smaller ones at first and and then lengthier colum ns. While waiting for a doctors appointment or to get on an airplane, I read the signs posted on the wall, the ad posters and billboards, and magazines that were left behind. Just a little bit at a time, I told myself. Remember what Mrs. Smith told you that reading doesnt need to polish off a lot of time.Mrs. Smiths first assignment to the class included reading two short stories, William Faulkners A Rose for Emily and Everything Rises Must satisfy by Flannery OConnor. We were to read the assigned stories and then dissect their meanings, and structure. Mrs. Smith helped us with an initial fabrication we read in class and showed us how to read efficiently and what things to keep in mind as we read. She taught us to look beyond the obvious and delve deeper into the authors motivation, history, and the lesson, or lessons, they were trying to convey.To my surprise, I actually enjoyed reading the two short stories. It didnt take much time to read through them the first time and, us ing Mrs. Smiths directives, the second time of reading brought to light many aspects of the story I had previously missed. There was a depth to the words that caused me to sit back and polish further on what Id read. In particular, Flannery OConnors Everything Rises Must Converge made a great impact on me with its important statement regarding racism and reverse racism. Prior to reading that story, Id really had no idea just how prevalent such issues were in the southernmost and how it cleverness adversely affect people. Although OConnor wrote the work some decades earlier, the issues raised are as important today as they were back then.I inclination I could say I became an avid reader overnight, but thats not the way it happened. I did, however, begin to take a peek at some of the books for sale in various stores. If I happened to be at the drug store, I snuck into the aisle of bestsellers and looked over the covers, reading the blurbs of praise on the front. I wasnt sure what subjects would interest me, but after reading some excerpts online, I decided that science fiction was the best fit for me and my personality.I assay reading The Hobbit but its length made it a chore so I opted, instead, for some shorter books, like novels based on the Star Wars movies. The volumes I chose couldnt be classified as classical literature by any means, by I enjoyed reading them and I figured that if there were books that could hold my interest, me the self-proclaimed non-reader then they couldnt be all bad. Next on my lean are some of the more classical works of science fiction, like those by Isaac Asimov, Jules Verne, and H. G. Wells.Ive learned a lot along the way in my reading adventures. Ive gotten an insiders view to history, as well as what the future might hold. Ive identified with characters and been surprised at endings which left me absent to know more.An added benefit which I never would have guessed is that of greater confidence in writing. attend coll ege means that essays, term papers, and theses are required in order to pass most classes. When once I used to dread doing such assignments, Ive frame that, through reading, I am much more comfortable with the written word.This is what literacy means to me. It is the ability to use our skills of reading and writing and comprehension to further our noesis as well as the desire to do so in order that we may better ourselves. No matter if you read a brain-teaser novel or a history book, there is something in that volume which imparts further knowledge to the reader. In some cases, it is obvious such as reading about the mistakes in history so future generations are not doomed to make the same mistakes. In other cases, it is not so obvious. merely any book that causes the reader to think about something in a different way is doing its job by expanding our knowledge and inciting our curiosity.As Frederick Douglass once said, erstwhile you learn to read, you will be forever free. And by the way, thank you Mrs. Smith, wherever you areThe Importance of ReadingI had an epiphany about reading and it changed my life.It was a day only several years ago when I first realized the numerous benefits I could realize from reading. Of course, I had been told all my life that reading was important. I was forced to do it in class after class beginning in elementary school and on up through high school. I had never read for enjoyment, had never gone to a book store and surveyed the stacks of tomes with pleasure, had never been to the library except when it was required for researching a particular assignment. To me reading was drudgery, a chore which interfered with more important things in life, like eating and sleeping. It wasnt until I took an English class in my senior year, however, that the importance of reading finally penetrated my brain.I realized my teacher for that English class, Mrs. Smith, was different from others Id had in the past from the first day I walke d into her classroom. While she looked like a typical, older lady with her graying hair and pair of wire-rimmed reading glasses continually perched on the end of her nose, it was her attitude that set her apart from other instructors. From her roost atop a stool at the front of the room, Mrs. Smith ruled the classroom with short legs swinging to and fro above the rungs while her arms complete with flabby schoolteacher arm would wave about to lend emphasis to her words.Mrs. Smith could tell I was uncomfortable in her English class almost immediately. She watched me squirm in my seat during her lectures and saw the visible signs of upset when she handed out a reading assignment. Im sure the groan I emitted was another clue to my discomfort.The next day, Mrs. Smith decided to address this issue with the entire class, without naming me specifically as the impetus for this particular lecture. Ill never forget what she said, however. It was something along the lines of thisIf you are go ing to get ahead in this world, you need to continually inform yourself about many different matters. In order to keep yourself informed, you must read. I dont mean sitting down to read War and Peace front to back, but more general reading. Take the opportunity to read anything you can. If you are sitting at the breakfast table eating a bowl of cereal, read the back of the cereal box. Take time to read a magazine article about something which interests you. Reading doesnt have to take a lot of time or be boring.For some reason, Mrs. Smiths words made me come to the realization that reading was beneficial in a way that other teachers had failed to do.I took her advice. I began by reading the back of the cereal box while eating my breakfast later that week (and Trix, by the way, has the best reading material, although Capn Crunch comes in a close second). I started reading newspaper articles smaller ones at first and then lengthier columns. While waiting for a doctors appointment or t o get on an airplane, I read the signs posted on the wall, the advertising posters and billboards, and magazines that were left behind. Just a little bit at a time, I told myself. Remember what Mrs. Smith told you that reading doesnt need to take a lot of time.Mrs. Smiths first assignment to the class included reading two short stories, William Faulkners A Rose for Emily and Everything Rises Must Converge by Flannery OConnor. We were to read the assigned stories and then analyze their meanings, and structure. Mrs. Smith helped us with an initial story we read in class and showed us how to read efficiently and what things to keep in mind as we read. She taught us to look beyond the obvious and delve deeper into the authors motivation, history, and the lesson, or lessons, they were trying to convey.To my surprise, I actually enjoyed reading the two short stories. It didnt take much time to read through them the first time and, using Mrs. Smiths directives, the second time of reading brought to light many aspects of the story I had previously missed. There was a depth to the words that caused me to sit back and reflect further on what Id read. In particular, Flannery OConnors Everything Rises Must Converge made a great impact on me with its important statement regarding racism and reverse racism. Prior to reading that story, Id really had no idea just how prevalent such issues were in the South and how it might adversely affect people. Although OConnor wrote the work some decades earlier, the issues raised are as important today as they were back then.I wish I could say I became an avid reader overnight, but thats not the way it happened. I did, however, begin to take a peek at some of the books for sale in various stores. If I happened to be at the drug store, I snuck into the aisle of bestsellers and looked over the covers, reading the blurbs of praise on the front. I wasnt sure what subjects would interest me, but after reading some excerpts online, I decided that science fiction was the best fit for me and my personality.I tried reading The Hobbit but its length made it a chore so I opted, instead, for some shorter books, like novels based on the Star Wars movies. The volumes I chose couldnt be classified as classical literature by any means, by I enjoyed reading them and I figured that if there were books that could hold my interest, me the self-proclaimed non-reader then they couldnt be all bad. Next on my list are some of the more classical works of science fiction, like those by Isaac Asimov, Jules Verne, and H. G. Wells.Ive learned a lot along the way in my reading adventures. Ive gotten an insiders view to history, as well as what the future might hold. Ive identified with characters and been surprised at endings which left me wanting to know more.An added benefit which I never would have guessed is that of greater confidence in writing. Attending college means that essays, term papers, and theses are required in order to pass most classes. When once I used to dread doing such assignments, Ive found that, through reading, I am much more comfortable with the written word.This is what literacy means to me. It is the ability to use our skills of reading and writing and comprehension to further our knowledge as well as the desire to do so in order that we may better ourselves. No matter if you read a mystery novel or a history book, there is something in that volume which imparts further knowledge to the reader. In some cases, it is obvious such as learning about the mistakes in history so future generations are not doomed to make the same mistakes. In other cases, it is not so obvious. But any book that causes the reader to think about something in a different way is doing its job by expanding our knowledge and inciting our curiosity.As Frederick Douglass once said, Once you learn to read, you will be forever free. And by the way, thank you Mrs. Smith, wherever you are