Turning the Page: The Role of a Local Library in My Informal Education by Olivia

Turning the Page: The Role of a Local Library in My Informal Education by Olivia - June 2024 Scholarship Essay

When asked to describe “the best part of summer vacation” at the beginning of the school year, most answers are composed of activities unrelated to learning: beach vacations, pool time, summer camp. I, however, always had fond memories of visits to my local library, an instrumental source of informal education that would change my life forever.

Initially, I only was concerned with the pictures in books; I would spend hours gazing at the beautiful illustrations in a collection of Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tales. But, soon enough, I decided that the words surrounding them may be worthwhile to take a look at. What began as a desire to understand why exactly the tin soldier encountered a rat in a gutter demanding he pay a toll turned into something more. I began to adore the stories found at my local library and soon developed into my love for history (which to me is simply an ongoing story that has a lot of drama).

Before I became a serious literary enthusiast, I was always known as a “good” student. But the trips to the library made me a curious student. If there was a word that I didn’t know, I was determined to use it in a sentence by the end of the day to prove that it wasn’t unattainable. Reading at the library also changed my attitude towards less enjoyable subjects; Even though I still despise science and math, my disdain has been tempered by reading about the immortal cells of Henrietta Lacks and the remarkably precise mathematical system of the Mayan Civilization.

These visits certainly had an impact on my academic success; many of my favorite literary heroines were often able to reach their goals because of their determination and intelligence. With numerous examples around me, it seemed that I could do it too.

I still love going to the library– it is not only one of my happiest places but also a place where I can serve my community as a volunteer. I still smile when kids need help finding books or reaching for a novel on a high shelf. It is my greatest hope that they–and everyone for that matter–can reap the benefits of local libraries to reach their goals, just as I am doing to this day.