Literary Seed
The growth of my literary curiosity, discipline, and passion
I learned to read in the Dominican Republic, a place where books based on age and genre were not easily accessible. When I was seven years old, my grandmother gave me my first book, The Book of Mormon. I am not particularly religious. I loved this book because of the layout of the paragraphs and columns, the smell, the wisdom I felt when reading it, and because it was my one and only. Though I did not spend much time writing about religious beliefs, the book inspired me to write about myself and those who surrounded me. What I thought was right or wrong. Through this peculiar book, I built literary curiosity and discipline.
I moved to Brooklyn, New York when I was twelve. I spent middle school learning English in an ESL program filled with passionate teachers and immigrant students from Latin America. Mrs. Rodriguez was this short, pepper-haired Puerto Rican teacher in her 50s. She was harsh and loud, but she meant well. Mrs. Rodriguez would allow us to borrow books from her shelf every Friday. I watched “Before We Were Free” on the first Friday by Julia Alvarez. This book was my first love. It fueled my interest in descriptive-style bibliographic or fictional novels. Julia Alvarez became my favorite author. I read “How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent” and “How Tia Lola Came to Visit Stay.” Julia Alvarez made me feel understood as a homesick immigrant child yearning for home and struggling to adjust to this big city.
The summer I graduated middle school, my mother got me a library card at the Clinton Hill Library. That library became my sanctuary, where I escaped to different worlds. I read countless descriptive-style bibliographies, fiction novels, novels based on true stories, fast-paced thrillers, and supernatural puzzles. While reading these books, I met countless characters with incredibly colorful experiences and emotions. I spent many afterschool hours feeding my literary passion. I never felt alone.
My college years were a period of exploration and self-discovery. I initially studied fields that did not align with my true passion. After earning an associate degree in Criminal Justice from BMCC, I transferred to NYCCT. I spent a few semesters in Human Services and one semester in Law and Paralegal. It wasn't until last year that I began to see my literary passion as a potential career path. Finding my true calling was not easy, but it was a crucial part of my growth and development.
In the fall of 2022, I registered for the Bachelor of Science in Professional and Technical Writing, with a concentration in Psychology and a minor in Hispanic Studies. In the summer of 2024, I began to seek an HRCI Human Resource Associate professional certification. I have enhanced my experience in corporate communication and documentation, digital design, and philanthropy. I have met incredibly supportive teachers and students who are very different from me yet similar through our connection radiated by the power of literacy and creativity.
All Time Favorite Books
Favorite Authors
