1. How do you feel about reading? Tell me about it.

When I was young, I loved to read but throughout grade school like many kids I began to read less and less. Throughout my last year of high school and during college the only books I read were assigned in the class, while most were dry textbooks, multiple of these books were amazing novels and writings that have grown to be some of my favorites. While I have not read much through my teenage, surprisingly after my first practicum last year the first thing I wanted to do after finishing was to go to the bookstore and start reading more. So throughout the summer I have regained my love of reading and now am an avid reader who loves to learn new stories and facts.  

  1. What types of books do you like to read?

I read all different types of books, and this sometimes makes it hard to decide on a book to read as there are so many options. Throughout the summer and fall I read books from multiple genres such as: classic novels, memoires, feminist theory, queer theory, sport books, education, environmentalism and animal/plant/fungal lives, music books, journalism/history, and an array of science books.

  1. List some hobbies and things you like to do outside of school.

Outside of school I like to try and stay active, to do this I enjoy climbing, skiing, hockey, skateboarding, and tennis. While I read, participate in these activities, or during my daily life activities I love to have some noise in my ear, whether it is some good music, a podcast, or an audiobook. Other then this I love photography and videography and try to use the activities I love to follow these passions as well.

  1. Who are your favourite authors?

So far through my reading journey I have not read many books from the same author twice, however there are a few authors in which I have or am excited to read another work from them. Fyodor Dostoyevsky born in Russia in the 1820 and is a famed novelist from his time, while I have only read one of his books so far, I am super excited to start another. I originally found my next favorite author through a short story I had to read for my first university English class, Haruki Murakami is a contemporary novelist from Japan who has since had is work adapted into a movie. The movie “Burning” is based on the original short story I read in class “Barn Burning”. The last author I will mention is Hunter S Thompson, Hunter was a prized journalist from the USA who coined the term “gonzo journalism” and has written some of the most in-depth and interesting stories of recent times.

  1. Tell me a bit about the last book you read that you really enjoyed.

The last book I read was about the lives of fungi and mushroom, this book was wildly entertaining and changed my view of how I see plant and animal life. Through the book I learned how important fungus is to our ecosystems, they allow nutrients under the soil to travel from plant to plant ensuring the success of all life. Mushrooms, fungus, and the building blocks of these organisms, mycelium and hyphae create 100 of kilometers and 1000 of year olds “cellular highways” which are the foundation for the survival of the forests.

  1. Tell me a bit about what you have been doing since last semester during your winter break. How have you been spending your time?

My winter break was not spent with a lot of reading, instead I spent time with my family and friends. My family and I spent a lovely Christmas together and I was able to see my old friends from high school. With them I went on hikes, skiing, and skateboarding. Other then this I went to some live music in town, worked, and relaxed while watching the hockey junior world championships.

  1. What subjects or topics do you like learning about?

I like to learn about many different subjects in my free time. I like to learn about political and economic theory, psychology and sociology, the environment, and the organisms within it, how the human body and brain works, history, and current affairs. While I have not been able to find a book I would like to read on all these subjects yet I listen to podcasts, read articles, and participate in conversations that allow me to learn new things in these topics.

  1. If you could read a book about one thing, what would that be?

There are so many books I would love to read on a specific subject, and I am sure there are some out there I just have to find them. At the moment if I could find a book on one specific topic or question, I think it would be on how our current agriculture practices are unsustainable and how switching to a plant-based diet based on legumes, beans, mushrooms and grain can be healthier for you and the environment. While I appreciate the books on how to create a plant based diet I would want to find one on the science of this topic, addressing how it would be possible, what changes it would make, and the larger socio-economic effect.