SMSA READS

About Me

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My name is Tifa Talovic and I am a senior at Sport and Medical Sciences Academy. Like many other students that attend this school, my parents and sister immigrated from our home country, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in hopes of providing our family with a better life. Getting used to American culture was no easy feat for them, however, they continued to persevere through it, especially when they found out I was on the way. I was born 13 months after my family had arrived in the U.S. and I got to experience my parents continuously working. Growing up, my parents attended classes to learn English, however, they found it hard to balance work, children, and personal responsibilities, so they gave up that opportunity. Instead, they put all of their efforts in helping my sister and I out. I remember nights where I was wedged between my parents with a Bosnian-to-English dictionary, trying to translate my homework. The library also became a vital part of my childhood, my father used to take me multiple times throughout the week, regardless of how exhausted he was from the night shift that he worked. Although I have opted into buying my own books since I started working two years ago, I know that this isn’t really a reality for many. So when I noticed that libraries were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I knew that there was something to be done. I decided to create an Instagram account, called @smsareads, where students could find resources on accessing free ebooks, book recommendations and new types of genres. I hoped to provide a resource for those who want to continue reading and help those who want to start.