August 1, 2021
Raised by parents who emigrated from Poland as the Communist regime collapsed, learning English was a challenge for me. I grew up immersed in Polish culture and called Chicago’s thriving Polish community my home. With non-English speaking parents, my only hope of learning the language was through VHS tapes and later my older sister when she entered school. My Polish culture, though it forms an important part of my identity, created an invisible barrier that hindered my ability to fit in. I started to feel out of place around confident American kids because of my inability to speak their language. Terrified and feeling like an outcast, I excluded myself from American culture and language until I reached kindergarten.
Without previous knowledge of English, reading and writing were incredibly challenging. The environment at an American public school was a stark change from the Polish immigrant community where I grew up. My communication skills lagged behind those of other students, and my peers poked fun at my accent. Eventually, I started to lose hope and mastering English seemed like an unattainable goal. Being placed in speech therapy helped me manage in school, but language remained a daily battle.
In middle school, to my surprise, I received an invitation to join Battle of the Books. Although I doubted my ability to comprehend novels, my library teacher encouraged me to embrace the challenge. Determined to overcome what had held me back for so long, I spent the next three years of school reading and training for competitions based on the comprehension of 20 novels. My participation on this team provided a stepping stone towards reading for pleasure. I discovered one of my favorite books, The Rithmatist by Bradon Sanderson, whose brilliant storytelling glued my eyes to the page. My comprehension confidence grew and I became driven to win against other middle schools. In my third year, we prevailed within our division. Though we did not win the overall competition, this experience opened the vast world of literature to me. Reading no longer felt like a battle.
My newfound love for reading brought upon benefits unimaginable to my younger self: comprehension came naturally, my formal and colloquial language improved, my vocabulary expanded. The opportunity to explore various cultures, time periods, and even fantastical realms became delightful and informative. I grew insistent on reading books, articles, newsletters and magazines that put unlimited information at my fingertips. Reading the perspectives of others enriched my mindset and expanded my worldview. My boundless curiosity was constantly satisfied by learning about new concepts in what I would read.
Having acquired an appreciation for reading, I started to dive into topics that captivate me. National Geographic, in particular, became my favorite source of information about conservation and the environment. As an aspiring conservationist, the endless articles about our biologically diverse world allow me to understand the threats it faces. One article prompts me to click on another and I am pulled into a world of well respected scientists making an informed effort to preserve the environment. I share these scientists’ commitment and passion for conservation and raising awareness to protect wildlife and forestry, devoting my time to various environmentally conscious clubs at my high school, which I hope to continue as an undergrad.
Hoping to share my love for reading, I founded a book club with my peers to engage in informal discussions about our monthly book. We debate and ultimately decide upon discussion questions, and select a new reading to keep us busy. It remains one of my favorite activities outside of school, as it continuously challenges my intellectual ability. Sharing a book with my peers undoubtedly benefits my comprehension because with multiple minds, we can tackle challenging texts. I aspire to join or create a book club within my future academic setting.
Sitting in my book club discussing novels with my peers, I remembered how daunting it was to pick up my first book in English. I felt grateful to my librarian for pushing me to join the Battle of the Books team, which helped turn my anxiety about reading and writing into a source of knowledge and fulfillment. Reading is now one of my greatest assets, and I look forward to digesting different kinds of texts as a student. College invites grander opportunities to enrich and expand my knowledge, and whether through textbooks or cultural literature, reading will surely play an important role. Knowing both English and Polish, language now seems like more of a strength than an obstacle, and I am excited to use both to continue developing my understanding of the world.
