Journey
Akhtar, Shahid

SHAHID: Well, I started reading better because when I was in English class, just due to the fact that I was foreign they thought that I couldn't read very well. So they used to put me in remedial classes so that I would be able to read better. Well they didn't really realize that I already knew how to read but due to the fact that they put me in these classes and I learned how to read even better, because I started emphasizing things that were more important and was able to speed-read and realize that was more efficient; I could take things out from reading a paragraph to what I could understand and what I couldn't. My understanding got better because they made me read a bunch of books that you had to read in order to pass that class. At the time I thought it was like punishment for not being a good reader but now in life I can read about a hundred pages a day. I'm trying to become a heart surgeon so it helps out when I'm reading my medical books and whenever I have to fill out any forms or if I have to do labs I don't need any kind of help because I sort of just read what I need to and grasp it. It's taken me pretty far, I don't ask for too much help because I have the confidence of reading things and understanding my own ability. That's why I really respect literate people. My father reads a lot so I figure that's where I got if from. He also does poetry; I'm not really a poet but hopefully one day I'll see what I can do.