Hello Words Alive community, my name is Serena Cuomo! I am thrilled to have joined this organization and have the opportunity to connect with all of its supportive members, working hard together in this labor of love for reading.
In the interest of connecting with you all better, let me introduce myself a bit. My relationship with books started at a very young age; so young that I couldn’t even read yet. I’ve been told from family members of mine that I used to pick up books and come up with my own stories to fill the pages as I flipped through them, reading aloud what I imagined them to say. As I grew up and learned to actually read the stories I was holding in my hands, a deep connection to each new story brewed inside. I saw every book as a new opportunity to connect to a new understanding of the world through different eyes. I remember this deep connection to literature really stirred inside of me by the time I entered high school, breaking down and analyzing all of the components of a novel in my English classes. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger had always stood out to me because it was the first time I had ever felt so inside the mind of a character while still analyzing them from this outsider perspective that the character was completely oblivious to- I was amazed at Salinger’s talent to accomplish such a feat.
The beauty of human connection that can be achieved through storytelling is what has always driven me to literature, and what pushes me now into the desire to work in the publication of this written art. Having recently acquired my bachelors degree in Literature and Writing Studies from the California State University of San Marcos, I spent most of my time in formal education studying the published works of many authors, and doing my best to embrace each story with an open mind; because even if I could not personally relate, I could try and understand. The opportunity to work with Words Alive in their admirable efforts to expand reading access to the youth of San Diego is an important feat for me, and one I am passionate towards. I know the power of stories and the effect they have had in my own life; I want to ensure that every child has that same opportunity to explore stories they can feel connected to as well.
I am excited to pursue this passion here at Words Alive while also working towards my professional goals to begin a career in the book publishing industry. I know my work here will be a foundational start to my journey through the world of books, and those who create and consume them.