Talking about pivotal moments of one's life might provide an interesting perspective on the person's mindset. After all, anything can be a pivotal point if you think of it as one.

As a kid, I used to read a lot. Quite literally, my parents had to spend an almost ridiculous amount of time persuading me to stop reading so that I could go to sleep. I am convinced that back then, reading was actually my main hobby, the way I spent most of my time.

It was true during all my primary school years. Then, however, I started to gradually read less, then less, and even less, until I stopped reading completely. Unfortunately, I do not remember what caused such dramatic changes. I went from a kid who was unable to distract herself from a book to a teenager who was unable to focus on a book, and I still cannot find out why.

A few years later, I was in my 11th grade, which was the final year of school and, therefore, was devoted to preparation for the state exams, and which happened to be the year when the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) started to spread. A few months before the beginning of the exam period, it was announced that state exams were no longer mandatory for graduation. However, no one could predict that, not me, at least, so I started preparing for one of the toughest exams in my life, something that could change my life significantly.

One of the two exams that were absolutely mandatory for every student was an exam in Russian language and literature (at this point I feel the need to clarify that I was born and raised in Russia), and despite seeming like the easiest exam, it was quite the opposite for me. The part that brings you most of the points on that exam is an essay on a topic that, to put it shortly, you need to come up with on your own, as well as incorporate at least two different works of literature into your writing. Now, here comes the funny part.

As I have already mentioned, I stopped reading excessively in middle school, then I quit reading completely. Which, in other words, meant that I could not support the thesis statement of my essay with any evidence.

This is when, finally, the pivoting point happened. One of my teachers recommended me a book that not only helped me pass the state exam but also – and more importantly – got me back into reading.

As easy as it might sound, that book* was the first one in several years that made me lose any sense of time and place. I read it in one sitting and then felt like I wanted to read it again. I was stunned. It is not flawless, I have to admit, and it is not the kind of book I would usually choose to read – but this only made me appreciate the story more. I think I will even be dramatic and say that it was the beginning of a new beginning for me.

Shortly after my graduation, I found myself reading just any book I could find on my shelves. It was a mildly uncomfortable process that required some effort I did not remember putting in, because, as it turned out, reading is just like any other skill, and if you do not exercise it enough, it wilts. In spite of that, I pushed myself to it. Starting over might be hard, but I know way too well what it is like to live without reading – and to be completely honest, I never want to experience that again.

*Story of a Real Man, Boris Polevoy/ Повесть о настоящем человеке, Борис Полевой.

About the Author

Aleksandra is a freshman majoring in Computer Science at Korea University.