Mission, Texas- Aliha Reyna is a 5th grade student at Cantu Elementary that has taken the love of reading to the next level by adding six million words to her reading word count. This school year she has the highest number of words read in the district. She is the daughter of Miriam Ramirez and Rusbel Reyna.
She reads from four to six hours a day during the week and even more on the weekend. Aliha will be attending Alton Memorial Jr. High next year, and she will continue her reading goals and even challenge herself to exceed previous ones. She has set her goal to reach 10 million words for next year and the determination that she has demonstrated would get her to that reading word count. She states that she is transported to different destinations through her books.
“When I read the Harry Potter books, I actually thought I was in Hogwarts,” states Aliha Reyna. “Reading is amazing because when you do, it actually makes you feel like you are in that setting with the protagonist.”
She has been a Platinum Reader (million words plus) since 2nd grade but this year she wanted to set her goal higher. She credits her teachers and family for helping her develop this passion. She comes from a long line of avid readers.
“I come from a family that really enjoys reading and that has helped me develop my passion for books throughout the years,” states Aliha Reyna. “When my aunt was in school, she read four million words and currently has many books on her shelf. I get to borrow them but before I do I check to see if the book is testable.”
Her favorite genre is horror, and her favorite book is “It” by Stephen King. She may only be a fifth grader now but already has her sight set on her future. She would like to become a Cardiothoracic surgeon when she grows up because she has been around several family members that work in the medical field and it is of interest to her.
She would like to tell other students at her campus that there may always be something that you may not like to do but once it clicks for you then you can’t stop. That is exactly what happened to her and now she can’t stop reading.