Behind the Pages

   I am a twenty-something-year-old girl with books on the brain. I am proud to be from the southern state of Mississippi, where my love for reading and writing and air-conditioning all came into being.
   Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a school teacher. My teachers were always subjects of admiration for me, so it quickly became my goal to pursue a career in education. I dreamed of one day having my own carefully constructed classroom, meticulously grading papers at all hours of the night, coming up with fun and creative assignments that students would actually enjoy doing, and sharing my passion for reading and learning with a group of my very own students. This dream quickly became my reality after graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, over a year ago, with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. 

   After graduating, seventy-five sixth-grade students kept me entertained, I suppose you can say, for an entire school year. On paper, I was a English-Language Arts Teacher with three sixth-grade classes; however, any teacher reading this knows that there is much more to it then that. I learned quickly that I was also considered a parent, a confidant, a tutor, a mentor, a comedian, a counselor, a disciplinarian, a tyrant, and even to some, a role-model. In the end, I was finally able to say that I had accomplished another one of my dreams while working for Petal Upper Elementary School. That was one of the best years of my entire life. I recently moved to Illinois, and my career in teaching has been put on hold while I try my hand at graduate school. Nonetheless, PUES affirmed for me that teaching is what I have been called to do. It's in my blood. Just like my passion for reading.

Those seventy-five sweet students I mentioned...

   I wish that I could say that my love for reading started as soon as I opened a book for the very first time, but unfortunately, that would be a lie. To be honest, reading was a struggle for me in school. Not that I couldn't read, but it was never something that I just liked to sit around and do for fun. In fact, as I recall, it was more  of a chore for me. (I would like to personally blame this on the incorrect implementation of Accelerated Reader at my elementary school...) Luckily though, as I grew older, I started to gain a better appreciation for the art. See, I always loved to write. Writing was something that came very naturally for me. Once I found that reading in turn made me a better writer, I worked at reading more. Now, I just enjoy the travel. Because as all avid readers know, "there is no frigate like a book."

And speaking of travel.. it is something I do best.

   My overall purpose of this blog is pretty simple. I aim to share my thoughts on a book or two each month with other fellow book lovers. (Maybe I can even inspire some to become book lovers!) Please feel free to join me on this journey, as I am eager to know your thoughts as well.