Long before I could make sense of a book entirely on my own, I was a regular at Welles Turner Memorial Library. Each week I’d waddle in and find a seat in the circle among my fellow preschoolers, eager to hear what picture book selection the librarian had made. Though I was known to be an energetic, often loud child, the moment a story began I would fall silent. I’d hang on every word, breathlessly waiting to hear what the very hungry caterpillar would consume next. Through programs like these, Welles Turner planted in me a love of reading that would blossom in the years that followed. 

All throughout my elementary school years, I was an avid participant in the library’s Summer Reading initiatives. I’d spend countless afternoons tearing through stacks of The Magic Treehouse and Captain Underpants- at first in pursuit of the coveted Summer Reading T-shirt that was awarded to any participant who finished ten books, but eventually in pursuit of more enthralling stories. I’d find myself begging my mom to let us stop at the library anytime we passed by (a request she was happy to fulfill) and returning home with a brand new stack of stories. I owe the discovery of my favorite pastime to Welles Turner’s incredible dedication to fostering the youth’s love of literature, for even now I find it difficult to drive by the library without stopping in for a few new books. 

As my reading turned from chapter books to textbooks, Welles Turner continued to be an invaluable educational resource. The library’s study rooms became my second home- the perfect location to pore over notes or decode Shakespearean plays. As a student prone to distraction, I am grateful to have found such a perfect quiet space specifically dedicated to student use. 

Now, as I anticipate the next chapter of my educational journey, I realize how perfectly Welles Turner has prepared me to be a successful student and thinker. I intend to apply my passion for reading and learning as I pursue Environmental Studies and Political Science at Middlebury College. Just as Welles Turner has had a profound impact on me, I too hope to make an impact on my community with a career in Environmental Policy.