Children's Books
the book that taught me that reading could spark my imagination and bring me into another world; it made reading an exciting, fun experience
What is Oh, the Places You'll Go?
the show that helped to build my sense of sarcasm and my sense of irony
What is The Office?
the lyrics of this song helped me cope with the stress of homework and strained friendships that I experienced in 7th grade; it helped me understand that others were just as overwhelmed as me
What is A Little Too Much by Shawn Mendes?
the first young adult book that fully engrossed me (besides children's books) and made me enjoy reading; it also inspired me by exposing me to a strong female lead with whom I found many similarities
What is The Hunger Games?
the movie that made me realize how deeply I could emotionally connect to a fictional character, as I cried when the leading male died
What is The Fault in Our Stars?
the first book that allowed me to make a text-to-self connection (about how my mom loves me and my sister equally); it also comforted me whenever I was feeling upset
What is I Love You All the Same?
the show that enlightened me about the impact of suicide and rape on victims and their loved ones
What is Thirteen Reasons Why?
the lyrics of this song strengthened the bond between me and my dad when we danced to it when I was three; it continues to be meaningful to us to this day
What is My Girl by The Temptations?
the series that I read in 3rd grade that first challenged me as a reader with its advanced vocabulary, detailed plot, and complex characters
What is the Harry Potter series?
the movie that gave me an appreciation for science fiction as a genre; it also demonstrated "girl power" to me through a strong female lead
What is Divergent?
the book that taught me to be generous without expecting anything in return, a principle that has guided me throughout my childhood and teenage years
What is The Giving Tree?
the show that helped me understand how racial differences impact society unjustly and how experiencing racism can make individuals feel dehumanized
What is Orange is the New Black?
the song that taught me to appreciate the art of poetry as well as storytelling through creative diction; it also taught me to look for hidden meanings in writing because this song's lyrics have a deeper meaning than they appear to have
What is She Lays Down by The 1975?
the first book assigned by a teacher that I enjoyed; it made me more open-minded to other people's recommendations for not only reading but also other aspects of life
What is The Giver?
the movie that demonstrated to me the beauty of friendship and the pain of losing it; it also resonated with me due to the parallels I saw between the lives of me and the lead character
What is Me and Earl and the Dying Girl?