Overestimation It was Descartes who said, “The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of past centuries.” It was nearing the end of my junior year of high school, and people had their course selection cards and were determining which and what classes they would take their senior year. There were some students who chose the harder classes. Then there were students who were taking the classes they could just breeze by in, like me, though I just took them for the GPA boost. This particular day out of the blue my English teacher, Mrs. Sasser, came to me and suggested that I take the AP English 12 considering how my grades were in her class. This to me came as a major surprise considering all I ever did was get on her nerves and forget homework. “I just don’t think I would be able to handle it.” I replied as my friend Brandon laughed at me. She would not accept that though and pressed on stating,” I know you can do it, but only if you do that homework of yours.” “I think it would be a good change of pace for you.” Obviously I accepted because I just could not say no to her; she was just too nice, and plus she believed in me, and that does not happen often. Thanks to literacy I had the opportunity to read novels such as Frankenstein and Catcher in the Rye, and to advance my writing through speech. Our first book we had to read was Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. It was a book I thought I could understand, but I was so wrong. Our first day of open discussion and the questions flying around the class confused me to no end, when it came down to my turn I had to slide down into my seat and say,” I had no questions.” That day after class I spoke with my teacher and told her my problems. “I’m sorry I just didn’t understand anything we discussed in class today.” I say. “Oh? Well what do you mean, how can I help you?” she responded. I think it over and I honestly have no idea how to answer, I had nowhere to start, I mean AP is a big jump from regular English. In the end I just told her “everything.” She was so polite and helpful, she told me to come back after school and that she would walk me through the day’s lesson. After she explained things to me and helped me understand the main points of symbolism, themes, and meanings my school days became so much easier. I did not do the best on that specific book, but I knew I would do better on the next one. I read that second book and immediately thought,” I knew it.” J.D Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye was our second novel for our study, and this I one bildungsroman I could honestly say I loved and understood. It was a wonderful story with so much meaning and I was ready for our essay. The class discussion came and I was in the fray with everyone else, I understood it, I could not be happier. The test