In the beginning of her life, Cailin was not very interested in reading. Up until she started school, reading books did not seem enjoyable or exciting. This all changed when she was introduced to the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom in her kindergarten class. Seeing this book, filled with colors and letters, her love of reading began. Over and over read this book, being enchanted by the letters moving up and down a cartoon coconut tree. The love for this children's book turned reading into a lifetime obsession for Cailin. Reading is a safe haven for many. It may be the only time when lives are able to transform and imagination is allowed to run rampant. Reading also allows the reader to expand upon knowledge that the reader already possesses. Cailin believes that in order to be a good reader, one must love to read and also be willing to understand what the author is trying to convey through s book. Without a will to read, then there isn't much purpose in reading. And without trying to understand what the author was trying to tell, the purpose of a book is lost. A good reader must be able to find reading easy, and not as a task. Cailin says that reading is easy for her because when she reads, she is able to immerse herself in the story being told. Being able to sympathize and learn and grow with the characters in the novel is extremely important, and doing those things makes reading simple and breezy. Looking for a new book is a fun challenge. Any book that has an intriguing title, cover art, or quotes has the capacity to be a great read. Cailin is not picky when choosing something to read. All books can be great if taken on with the right mind set. Cailin tries to read at home as much as possible. While it may not be plausible to read every single day for a few hours, Cailin tries to read at least a few hours every week. She believes that reading is very important for one's mental health and expansion.
Cailin is a writer. She's been a writer ever since her Chicka Chicka Boom Boom days. She learned how to write from one of her favorite authors - Barbara Park, the author of the Junie B. Jones books. The way that Park wrote her words and created her characters inspired Cailin to write stories just like her. Cailin wrote, and still does, creatively. Making up words and scenery just for fun to keep imagination going. Currently, Cailin spends most of her writing time writing in her journal. Writing can be very important to very many people. Some people make a living out of it, for some it's a hobby, and others can use writing as a written history of what has happened and what is currently happening. Writing well is not a hard thing to do. As long as the author can see the story through, they have achieved their goal of becoming a writer. While being grammatically correct with no errors are quite nice in writing pieces, a person can become a great writer without those skills. Writing in her journal at least once a week makes up almost the extent of Cailin's writing time currently. For her, journaling is sacred and special. She is keeping a personal record of what is happening in her life, and she cherishes the time she has to write in her journal. Cailin loves writing, and has never regretted choosing to write a little something rather than doing something else. If things aren't going well in life and all else fails, you always have a piece of paper an a pen to sort things out. Reading and writing are essential, and also quite fun! Never take your literacy for granted.