The Unlikely Librarian by Amy Largen

I know a girl who hated to read because it was hard. A girl who couldn’t read at grade level in third grade. A girl who dreaded school so much that she cried every morning at drop-off.

You’ve probably figured out by now—that girl was me.

But here’s the good news: against the odds, I caught up to grade level in reading by sixth grade. Research says that isn’t supposed to happen. And yet, it did. That same girl went on to become the first in her family to attend college. She even wrote a children’s book. And, believe it or not, she became a LIBRARIAN.

I am that unlikely librarian.

With 23 years in public education as a high school librarian, I share my story to remind you—never give up on kids. I don’t know exactly where my inner strength came from, but I do know one thing: my mother played a huge role. She took me to the mobile library (the bookmobile) that visited our rural community every Saturday, giving me access to books we wouldn’t have had otherwise. It was her encouragement, along with a teacher or two who believed in me, that helped me unlock my potential.

Now, I work with students who didn’t have those same opportunities. Research tells us that if a child isn’t reading at grade level by third grade, their odds of catching up are slim. I was one of the lucky ones, but thousands of kids aren’t. My job is hard. Getting teenagers to read is HARD. Many of them struggle because reading has always been difficult for them. They never mastered the basics—fluency, sight words, comprehension. Add to that the endless distractions of social media, video games, and shrinking attention spans, and the challenge feels almost insurmountable.

My advice to young parents: start early. Fill your home with books. Read to your babies from day one. Let them see you read. Don’t let screens take over their world. The ability to read well is directly linked to academic success and future opportunities. Some of my students think that after graduation, they’ll never need to read again. Maybe. But they will have to read a job application. Instructions for running a machine. Medical forms filled with critical information about their health. Even directions for setting up the latest gaming system. Reading isn’t just for school—it’s for life.

I didn’t just become a librarian. I became a true lover of books. Old books, new books—they are the key to my heart. Books have been my refuge in difficult times, my escape, my peace. Some of the ones that have helped me navigate life’s challenges? Girl, Wash Your Face and Didn’t See That Coming by Rachel Hollis. Anything ever written by Gabrielle Bernstein. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. The Purpose Driven Life by Dr. Rick Warren. And, of course, my Bible is always within reach.

Books teach us, comfort us, and inspire us. They prepare us for the road ahead. If you aren’t a reader—or you aren’t raising a reader—it’s never too late to start.

Note from Lizzie: You can follow Amy and her blog on thejustbelievejourney.com (I've been following for quite a while. It's amazing.) OR you can follow her on Instagram @thejustbelievejourney