Shannon Mathew Personal Statement Essay

Hmmm………What shall I tell you about me? You, the person who will decide my fate, my fate as to whether I would go to CU-Boulder, go live in Colorado, go snowboarding in the mountains, meet lots of interesting people, and have the most wonderful experience…I better make myself sound worthy. First off, I want you to know that I'm an unparalleled individual, whose outlook on life is of total optimism. Through out my 18 years, I've become freinds with people from all walks of life. I've learned to empathize with just about every one of them, gaining the greatest understanding in a variety of remarkable characters. One of my favorite, a homeless lady who's called Polly, tells the most incredible stories of love and the many

When we were required to read books for school, other classmates complained about it, but it was one of my favorite parts of class. Even though I didn’t always like the books, I liked to read books that I wouldn’t have picked out to read. I liked being surprised when I enjoyed a book that I didn’t think I would like.

I want to discover why it is good. When I read, I am able to embark on a personal journey. It helps me control my levels of stress and it brings me happiness. With To Kill a Mockingbird, I, a lover of books of all shapes and sizes, would grow frustrated and frankly, bored, whenever I was assigned to read it. I craved for the opportunity to share out my thoughts and feelings about the book but was unable to. Instead of growing as an intellectual, I became preoccupied with remembering character’s names and certain events in the book so I could pass the next quiz.

After reading Strange Tools, I was reminded of how my love of reading began. I have always enjoyed reading for amusement. I began reading when I discovered the library in primary school. As I continued to visit the library, I continued to to develop an adoration for lengthy texts. I think challenging, time consuming books are the most intriguing. Books have an unbounded amount of knowledge waiting to be discovered, and I admire every aspect that one offers. There is nothing like getting lost in a novel while temporarily becoming part of the story.

Growing up as the son of a rural Iowa veterinarian, I got my first experience in a medical field while riding along with my dad on calls, and from an early age my interest was piqued. It was the first of multiple experiences that pointed me toward a career in physical therapy.

Life is full of happiness and sorrows. Yet, life is sometimes really overwhelming. Everybody, at a certain period in life, want to throw all the problems away and run. But responsibilities don't let us go. Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are. Books are uniquely portable magic and reading is one of the most marvelous adventures that anyone can have.

I have always enjoyed reading. From graphic novels to 600 page novels I enjoy all books in some way. This paper tells the different books I enjoy and why, and some of my all-time favorite books. Reading is a great way to exercise your brain, and think more of the world around you.

My life has prepared me well for a future in helping others. Having overcame multiple instances of emotional abuse as well as social isolation throughout the course of four straight years, I have developed deep compassion and empathy for others. Being faced with multiple different instances of abuse that not many adults have gone through during my childhood has forced me to view the world in a more serious and objective manner. I have spent endless hours reflecting on my past experiences, comparing myself to others, wondering why things have happened the way they did, and how I can make my life better, even with the poor circumstances I had been given. I’ve remained adamant on becoming selfless and learning how to help others. I’ve

To me, reading means getting to enter an alternate universe and making up my own story along with the plot. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, I get to forget about the real world for a bit. When I’m reading I get to become an entirely new person with an entirely new story. By reading I get experience the text in my own perspective and give my take on how I envision the world in the story. On the other hand, I also get to learn things that may never be taught to me in school. When I’m reading I get to venture into somebody else’s life through a different set of eyes. My reason for reading also plays into what role reading takes on in my life because when I’m reading I can picture the characters and the world the way that I want to. Getting involved with the story is probably the most important part of reading because at that moment you really get to let your imagination run

When I first started training to be a nurse, my most compelling reason for peruse in the career was to care for the sick. Now that I am approaching the end of my three years of training my rationale has changed, I now want to empower patients in regards to their own health, supporting families in need, care for the ‘sick’ child and make a difference amongst as many people as I can.

Dr. Seuss, a well-known writer, said in one of his many books, “The more that you read, the more that you will know. The more that you learn, the more place that you will go.” My greatest passions are art and math but reading, to me at least, is like another world full of wonder, surprises, and mysteries. I will not say that some of the best things I have ever done is thanks to reading because that would be a lie, but I can say that some of the best things happen within the book. There are people in this world that love to read, I enjoy it but maybe not so much as the next person but when I grab a book, sometimes I get so lost in the book that nothing else seems to matter. Getting lost in a book any in a way is like living within the book can just be one of the best escapes from the real world that I have.

As a young girl I devoured books, but not literally though. I had a voracious appetite to learn and discover new worlds that I haven’t even set foot in. That is what captivated me most. In real life we are given one life to live. However, in literature we are able to live one thousand lives without the expense or hassle of leaving our own rooms. Stories have an intricate way of reeling you in, and with an assortment of genres to choose from virtually anyone can find a piece of text that they deem fascinating. Reading also allows us to expand our knowledge and be open to varying ideas and perspectives. Therefore, I identify reading as a great way to find enjoyment but also as a useful tool for learning because it helped strengthened my vocabulary and writing skills.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved reading. Even when I was just learning how to read in elementary school, I enjoyed it. However, because of the heavier workload in college and needing to work I do not have as much time to read leisurely as I would like. When I do get the opportunity to read, I dive right in and read quickly as to fill myself until the next chance. For example, over Christmas break I read a three book series in a little over twenty-four hours because I craved reading that much. As I start a book, I begin by getting a feel for the characters and by the half way point I am in the same world as the book. I love feeling like I am a fly on the wall in a story: witnessing all the events, hearing the things they say, following my favorite characters throughout their lives. When I read I become so engulfed in the story that I hate for it to end, no matter how good the ending is.

As you can see, reading is not on the list of my favorite things to do. I have never enjoyed reading and I probably never will. Although it is something I would like to take up as a hobby, I never find myself having very much time to read. Reading is very time consuming and I like to do lots of fun activities like swimming, spending time with friends, and playing with my

Yet I believe that the most beautiful thing about reading is that it develops and sharpens our imagination. It is because of this sole fact that I chose to devote my life to reading. When we read books, especially novels; the plot, characters, and settings, are all visualized within our heads. You may not realize it but as you read more books, and the more you use your imagination, the more precise and powerful your critical thinking skills become which gives you edge in the competitive