Molly O’Brien
October 19, 2015
Personal
Narrative Essay
The subtle
chewing of the peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich counteracts with the
obnoxious Lay's potato chips being crunched. I tuck a loose hair behind my petite
ears, and adjust my collared shirt. My skirt, tan of course, since Vinland has
a strict dress code, fits effortlessly over my cream knit tights. All purchased
from Gap Kids of course. Inside, sprawled on my lap lay a book, almost
certainly already half read, though only checked out the day prior. In the
distance, blurs of hunter greens, navies, and more khakis and creams are
spotted. The minuscule legs gallop across the bark to the forest and
the monkey bars to the basketball court. Let’s be real, a handful of the
time I was one of those kids running from the jungle gym to the hopscotch game.
But, when I wasn’t at recess, I can guarantee you that a book was clutched in the palm of my hand.
As I tumbled
out of our Hyundai and into the warmth of my neighborhood home, my eyes would
first be engaged towards the kitchen, where my dad would soon begin to prepare
a snack. After having munched on goldfish crackers, and gulped down Mott’s
apple juice, I hightailed it to my bedroom, plopped on the bed, and unwrapped
another Nancy Drew mystery book. Several hours later I would hear my mom call
out “Molly dinner is ready!” and I’d reply with “Okay two more seconds!” which
basically meant, “Okay two more chapters.” This was a routinely scenario in my
home for my fifth grade year.
About 7
years ago was when my passion for reading really blossomed. I was in about
fifth grade, and adored reading the Nancy Drew novels. They were full of
mystery, anticipation, and fantasy I loved to entwine myself in. Other than
the books I was obligated to read for school, all I can vividly remember
are reading Nancy Drew novels. I fell in love with the characters and each individual
plot each book entailed.
Being a 10
year old, fantasy was what I lived for. Of course some of the scenarios in the
series could honestly happen in real life; but many were fictional. But, as I
grew older I started to lose touch with my passion for reading. The older you
get, the busier you get. And reading didn’t become a priority like it used to
be. I remember even in elementary and early middle school having to sometimes
turn to a new book series until they got in a new Nancy Drew book that I hadn’t
read yet.
Before my
interest for reading blossomed, at the tender age of seven I wrote my first
novel. The book was about a group of girls that journeyed to Paris for a
modeling opportunity. I was fascinated with French culture and the fashion
industry, so the book was a perfect fit. After writing it, my drive to write
became stronger and I launched endless amounts of stories. None of them I actually
ended up finishing, but the feeling I felt when words gushed from my brain
through my body to my hand, and eventually onto the paper through my pencil was
the driving force for my writing. Scenarios and characters stemmed from simple
thoughts and ideas in my head became mini pieces of work. Clogging my time with
fictions was one of the finest ways I could spend my time as a seven year old.
My knowledge expanded greatly, and my ideas flowed freely into Microsoft word
or my beat up spiral bound jotter.
Fast
forwarding to 2015, I can with all honesty admit that I haven’t read a book or
written a story for my own joy, since sixth grade. The truth is this is the
reality for many people, even people years and years older than me. It’s
interesting, because hundreds of years ago reading was such a routinely
activity. When you don’t read merely because you don’t take the time to, you
really are taking your ability to read for granted. It’s also sad, because
there are so many that would be honored to be given the gift to read, or choose
a story of their liking and be able to comprehend it and appreciate it; the
same goes for writing.
Reading and
writing essentially fit into the same category of indispensable skills we need
in every aspect of our lives. They are taught to us as soon as we begin school,
and maybe even sooner. Reading and writing are the fundamental tools to knowledge
in life. Although most can admit this, most won’t use this to the best of their
ability. I’ve had the pleasure of being gifted a wide variety of books, and
have the freedom to write whatever I please. But, I take it for granted. The
ironic thing is that although we complain when we have to read a novel for
class or write a paper, we are doing it every second of every day. We read our
emails at work, we read receipts, and we read the latest article on the
Kardashians. We also write text messages, and notes to our husbands (ex. “There’s
casserole in the fridge, just heat at 400 degrees, see you at 8, don’t forget
Abby’s soccer game!”), and we write in search bars when looking for new recipes
on FoodNetwork.com. We do all this without thought, so why is it that it has
become such a chore for people in school? The answer is quite simple: lack of
appreciation. Ask any child that hasn’t been gifted an education what they
would appreciate in life. 99/100 times they just want to know how to read a
story and write sentences.
Through the
two stories I have shared about reading and writing, it has been learned and
understood that as a child I had an immense gratefulness for reading and
writing stories, and that throughout the years my love for both have faded. I
have forgotten how blessed me and so many other people are to have been raised
with a book in one hand and pencil and paper in the other. Reading will take
you to an unlimited amount of lands, and writing will allow you to create them
all. As a substitute to seeing writing
and reading as a chore, I encourage myself and readers to open your eyes to the
prospects that could stem from each. If you cannot appreciate the subject of
the novel, pay close attention to the words and development of the storyline. Seize
the sensory words and attend to the voice of the author. When writing from a
prompt, never just focus on the solitary words you’re being tested to write
about. Inflate on exactly what is being asked, and entangle yourself in the
prompt, making it your own. Losing touch with two of the greatest gifts in
life, that have made the world become what it is, should never be taken for
granted. Reading and writing have helped us communicate, and without
communication 7 billion stories could never be told.
“A reader
lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”
-George RR Martin
“Writing is
a calling, not a choice.” –Isabel Allende
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