Problems with Reading
Reading is not much fun for me. I have tried so many times to read, but I fail each time to finish what I am reading. There were some obstacles that prevented me from reading. Since I was a child I did not have the joy to read. On the other hand, my family wanted to convince me that reading is knowledge. Even though I knew that, and I believed in that but still I could not do it. Each time I tried to read any book or even a newspaper, and I always take a glance at the pictures and headlines without digging deep inside the article. However, I try to understand the article from its headline trying to avoid reading the article, and that does not work most of the time because the headlines are just a hook that attracts the reader to the article. Besides, it is not enough words to explain the whole article from reading the headline. But sometimes I push myself to read more about the article that got my attention, but I always stop half way without completing it to the end. Therefore, I feel that I have wasted my time reading half of what I started without getting to the core of the news. Therefore, my problem with reading has many reasons that I faced, and each time I want to read there must be something that prevent me from doing it. However, not reading a lot does not help with writing.
I realized that I have a problem not liking to read. So I went to my reading teacher back in sixth grade. I explained the difficulty that I have with reading. After that he told me to come to his office at lunch time to see what was wrong. After my classes and during lunch time I went to his office, and he was there waiting for me. He asked me “what would I enjoy reading,” and it was a hard question. I responded I do not know what I would enjoy reading. Then he told me to follow him to the library, he had something in mind as it seems. Once we got there he headed to the science fiction section, and pulled a book that is titled “Human and Demons.” At that time I was twelve years old, and I was not sure whether I should read this kind of book or not. But I did not want to look scared in front of the teacher. So I checked it out of the library, and I told him that I will start reading it. However, inside me I wanted to get rid of it. So I started reading couple of pages, and I did not like what I was reading. The writer explained how demons could take over human and make them commit sins. Immediately I stopped reading and put the book aside. However, that was not my first time trying to read a book. Later in my second year in college, I was thinking about giving it another try, and started reading again. There was a new book that some people recommend to me, it was titled “The Power of Subconscious Mind. “ So I went and bought that book because I had that interest of psychology at that time. Also I thought I would continue reading something that I would enjoy. However, I had some bad habits that I wanted to change. Smoking for example was one of the things that I should quit. So I started reading the book, and I did enjoy what I am reading. The book was about how to think positively, and by doing this way the person can achieve his or her goals. However, I quitted smoking by this method. The second week of this revolution that I am going through, my aunt came over to the city I was studying in. she had an appointment for a surgery, and I am the one who took care of her. She had to stay in the hospital for almost a week, and I used to visit her on my way to collage and on my way back. After she got out of surgery, my aunt other aunt and I came to visit her with some gifts in our hands. My other aunt brought coffee, tea, and some snacks. On the other hand, I brought her a rose and a book. The next day as usual I went to visit her, and she thanked me for the book, and told me how much she liked it. At the day of the check out, she told me that she will get out at noon. So I thought that I will go to check her out and get her to her sister’s house. That day I had classes in the morning, also I had evening class. However, I took my book and went to the hospital waiting down the lobby reading the book. I called her telling her that I am down in the lobby, she told me to wait until the doctor sign the papers to release her. After waiting five hours she called me and asked me to go and sign a paper from a doctor, and bring it to her. So I did, on my way back I called her to know where she is, she told me that she is in the car with my cousin. That was shock to me, but I went to her, give her the papers, and wished for her to get well soon. Then I turned around, started my car, went to McDonald, and there was one of my friends smoking. I took a cigarette from him, at that time I knew that I am not going to continue reading that book again. As a result these decisions led to some consequences. Writing on the other hand, cannot be done perfectly without reading. This is my third class of English. I also never had to write an essay before I came to Auburn University at Montgomery. I hope it does not take longer for me to start reading and continue reading. However, at AUM I have to take five English classes to graduate, and this is my first one that counts. In other words, if I do not start reading to improve my writing, I do not think that I will make it. At last, reading has been an issue that I could not handle well. On the other hand, I know I have to solve this problem one way or another. But these events that I have been through are making it so hard for me to forget it and force myself to read. However it is not too late to start doing it. Also I believe that with practice everything will get easier, it only needs effort and time.