Audwin Pierre McGee is probably one of the coolest guys I've ever had the pleasure of hearing speak. This man has done so many grand things in his life from being an artist to guiding safaris. His main point during his lecture was to look at the dreams you had as a child to figure out where you genuinely want to go in life. One piece of advice he gave that really connected with me was to look at what books made an impression on you as a child.
Here's where I turn into a complete literary nerd. I love books. I've loved books since I was born. My parents read to me all the time, and once I started reading myself, I couldn't stop. As a child, I read so many fabulous books that I can't even remember them all. Honestly, it's only fitting that I share my name with one of my favorite movie characters, Kathleen Kelly from You've Got Mail, who states, "When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your life does."
I fully believe this. As a child, I read such books as Nancy Drew, Betsy-Tacy, The Witch Family, and the Little House series. Those are just a few of my favorites, but they have shaped the person I've become. From Nancy Drew, I gained curiosity and an urge to help others. From Betsy-Tacy, I learned the need for friendship how imperative it is to nurture those friendships. The Witch Family taught me to have an imagination and be the best me I can be. The Little House books taught me the importance of family.
Even now, I'll go back and reread these books. One of the proudest moments of my life was introducing a young girl to the world of Nancy Drew. These books empowered me as a child. They taught me to go after my dreams. They made me use my imagination. They taught me how important it is to have imagination in this world. And truth be told, I'm tempted to be a children's librarian just so I can give children the same comfort these wonderful works of art gave me.
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