Every year on April 23 we recognize World Book Day, a global celebration of books, their creators, and their publishers, and if I could phrase it in simpler words, it is a full day solely dedicated to loving and promoting books! Could anything be more perfect for us Deltans who love literacy and all things English? Perhaps, but this comes close! So, in honor of World Book Day, I want to invite you on a stroll through time to trace the influence books have had in my life, and when this blog comes to close, I hope to read about yours.
My journey undoubtedly started far beyond the bounds of my memory. My mother has likely read more children’s books to me during my childhood than even she can remember, so drawing an X over my exact beginning proves to be slightly difficult. If I were given a choice to draw my own starting line, however, I would point to my collection of Geronimo Stilton books by Elisabetta Dami. Joining the wild adventures that those mice got up to was certainly my first independent step into the world of imagination and text. From that moment onward, my young creative mind set sail on the journey of expansion and discovery. The next large step I took with books was venturing into the realm of young adult literature. It was there that I was exposed to a variety of new topics and given the space to explore them for the first time. I remember little me thinking that she had already learned so many new things. If only she knew how much more the world and its books had to offer.
When college came around, books stepped into the forefront of my life. Reading each book was like stepping into a whole other world, life, and perspective. Each encounter was not just eye-opening but world changing. Everything I knew about the universe and its boundaries often shifted by the time I set a book down. The shifting, though amazing, did not come without its costs. I recall many moments filled with genuine uncomfortableness and frustration, but the good news is that those feelings were good in every way because they challenged me to look outside of my own lens, ask harder questions, and be more vulnerable. They prompted me to rewire what I considered “normal.” There is more to living than the life we live, and when you open yourself to that learning, the world feels more lived in, warm, and certainly much less lonely. Speaking from experience, that is certainly a world I enjoy being in.
Obviously, I cannot write a blog about books without mentioning a few of my favorites. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, and What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo are just a few of the many that transformed me and still stick with me as a scholar and person today. The great news is that the journey does not end here. There are so many more books out there that are just waiting to be read and to change our lives.
So, what will your next book be?
Carmen Lok
Associate Student Representative, Southern Region, 2025-2026
Omega Mu Chapter
University of South Florida, Tampa, Tampa, FL
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. The Society strives to
- Confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies;
- Provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities;
- Foster all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing;
- Promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members;
- Exhibit high standards of academic excellence; and
- Serve society by fostering literacy.
With over 900 active chapters located in the United States and abroad, there are more than 1,000 Faculty Advisors, and approximately 9,000 members inducted annually.
Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.
