My Relationship with Literature

 

Colegio Catarinense, Florianopolis - SC / Brazil
Source: http://www.colegiocatarinense.g12.br/

It has been years since I graduated from high school, more specifically in 1994 – do the math and you will probably realize how old I am! It is also worth mentioning that I went to school in Brazil, therefore, I am not certain if the methodology in which we approached literature has any similarities with how it’s taught here. Based on how we are doing currently, I can tell that if it was anything like this in high school, then it was definitely different in Brazil.
At my school, teachers would assign a book and give students around a month to read. We did very little analysis or evaluation. After reading the book, students would then take an exam about the story, main characters, their roles, scenarios and etc. Looking back, I believe we could have taken a much more critical thinking approach and less of the reading-because-it’s-on-the-curriculum one – at least that’s how it felt.  



Example of a literature book assigned in high school
Source: Google Images 

Reading literature was always more for obligation than pleasure. We were not given choices as to what books to read. I read the same books my older sister read years before, and my younger brother years later - we all attended the same catholic school. I enjoyed reading comics more than anything else. It was a fun treat from our grandparents and we loved it! I guess because we saw it more as a reward than an obligation.
Nowadays, I have a different frame of mind, mostly because of my 7 year-old a son who is a wiz in mathematics but struggles with language arts. I hope approaches reading from a different angle. I try to help by buying books that are interesting to him (cars, superheroes, Pokémon) as well as subjects that intrigue him (volcanos, sharks, tornados). I never use reading as punishment so he won’t associate reading with a negative situation.

Reading is indeed fundamental.  Reading literature though, is a way of taking you away from your reality and venture into someone else’s world.

On a mission for my mission

Variety's mobility bike presentation
From www.varietyofgerogia.org

Although I always knew I wanted to get a degree, for many years I was clueless as to what major to choose. Life has taken me in so many directions – insurance, real estate, software, and yet I never felt passionate about a job but for certain aspects of it. That all changed when I started working as program coordinator for a non-profit organization, Variety - The Children’s Charity of Georgia. Variety helps children with disadvantages and disabilities and it has been the most fulfilling jobs I’ve ever had.

The passion for helping others along with the exposure to the health field my whole life – my father is a dentist/surgeon, my sister a registered nurse, my grandfather a doctor – played a major role in my decision. I was never one to fear blood and was always ready to help in the event of any emergencies around me.  


Besides the fact that I live 10 minutes from Kennesaw State University, I have heard great things about their nursing program. Back in 2003, I took a couple of classes and really enjoyed it so the decision of going back to KSU wasn’t hard. Compensation was also a contributing factor, especially because I speak 3 languages and there is a huge demand for multilingual nurses. I’m still unsure what field to pursue - pediatric/neonatal, emergency room, or anesthetist, nevertheless, I finally found my calling and I am determined to chase it. 
 



From http://nursejournal.org/registered-nursing/rn-careers-salary-outlook/

"Average Registered Nursing salaries for job postings in Georgia are 14% higher than average Registered Nursing salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Amedisys, Inc., St. Francis Hospital, Fresenius Medical Care, and Crisp Regional Health Services." (NurseJournal.org)

At my 38 years of age, I am starting over to fulfill what I believe to be my mission in life. To be able to help others and make a difference in people’s lives is extremely gratifying to me, and I could not be more excited to start my new journey.