The Book That Changed My Life

Until my sophomore year in high school, I hated my English classes. I hated reading, I hated writing. In my sophomore year, I finally got a teacher that helped me figure out what the problem was. Up to that point, I felt I had no choices in my reading and I wasn't particularly interested in most of the books that were required. My teacher, Mrs. Smith (really, Mrs. Smith, I'm not protecting her identity) failed my first book thesis because I deserved it. I had never failed on anything, so I went to see her. She let me know that I had failed because I clearly hadn't read the book and that I clearly didn't care. She wanted to get my attention.

She sat down with me and went over the reading list. There was nothing that I was interested in, so she made me a deal. She would create another list of potential books from which I could choose. If I did an excellent job on a book from that list, I agreed to do the same on a book from the original list. I agreed. From the new list I chose Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein. That was the key. I just needed to feel that I had a choice, then I caught the fever. I started reading everything I could get my hands on. I started writing my own fiction. Obviously, I'm still writing (read my novel).

One book, one teacher and here I am.