Overdue Gratitude
From Struggling Reader to Published Author: A Librarian's Legacy
When I was in elementary school, reading was a struggle. By third grade, I was still reading at a first-grade level. It wasn't until I was diagnosed with ADHD and started medication that everything changed. Seemingly overnight, my world exploded with words and stories. By the end of that year, I was reading at a high school level, and by fourth grade, I had reached college-level reading proficiency.
Books became my constant companions. You'd never find me without one pressed against my face, lost in the pages of another world. As my love for reading grew, so did my connection to our school library. It started with me choosing to stay inside during recess, preferring the quiet company of books. Soon, I was helping other students check out books, and before long, a group of us were even creating short, funny segments about the library for the morning news.
At the heart of this literary oasis was our school librarian. She was more than just a keeper of books; she was a guide, a mentor, and ultimately, my hero. Without her influence, I might never have discovered my burning passion for stories and storytelling. Even at the tender age of nine, I knew with unwavering certainty that one day, I'd be writing my own stories.
Fast forward twenty-one years. At 30 years old, I sat down and wrote my first book in just one month. In the year since then, I've written ten books and published six. As I reflected on this journey, I couldn't help but think of the librarian who had set me on this path so many years ago.
I wanted to share my accomplishments with her, to show her the tangible results of the seeds she had planted. But there was a problem: I couldn't remember her maiden name, which I knew had changed, and I had no idea how to find her. Thankfully, my old school friends came through, providing her new name and a way to contact her through her niece, a former classmate and friend.
With her address in hand, I carefully prepared a package. Inside, I placed copies of my first book, along with the first book from each of the three series I've begun. I wrapped them in brown craft paper, including plenty of bookish extras – the same kind I include in my paid book boxes. Along with the books, I penned a heartfelt letter, detailing how much her influence had shaped my life and future.
As I prepare to ship these books, I'm filled with excitement and a touch of nervousness. I hope she loves them. More than that, I hope this gesture makes her feel good, knowing that her work during her career made a significant difference in at least one person's life.
To all the librarians out there: your work matters. You're not just organizing books or maintaining quiet spaces. You're lighting sparks, nurturing passions, and shaping futures. You never know which struggling reader might one day return with their own stories to tell.
And to my librarian: thank you. Your legacy lives on in every word I write.
