MILFORD – Literature can plant the seeds of knowledge.
Andrew Scott, of Milford, became a writer about two years ago after retiring from his job as a life skills teacher at Milford High School.
He recently published “Could You Exercise With Me Please?”, a children’s book that teaches kids about health and fitness.
The idea for this book came to me many years ago, but I never had the time to put it down on paper until recently.
“The idea for the book came to me about seven years ago,” Scott says, “and I started writing it when I left school two years ago.”
The main aim of this book is to make children aware of the importance of exercise for health. This book is interactive so children can get active while they read.
“The most important thing is health and fitness,” Scott says, “and it has 10 basic exercises that you can do with your parents, grandparents, siblings and cousins.”
“Training with someone gives you that extra motivation.”
He noticed that kids weren’t exercising like they used to.
“I’m a coach, mentor and personal trainer,” Scott said, “and I see a lot of issues with young people in sport, which is what inspired me to write this book.”
The book also contains other lessons that children can learn as they read.
“Some of the secondary lessons in the book include primary colors, counting to 10 and an overall overview of health tips,” Scott added.
He hopes that the interactive elements in the book will make readers more interested in reading.
“A lot of this generation doesn’t like reading because they like playing mobile games,” Scott said, “so we made the book interactive.”
“In sixth grade, I would stay up all night reading Judy Blume books and The Outsiders because it had action and excitement, and that’s what I want to impart to my students by having them read this book.”
Mr. Scott was born and raised in Harrington and graduated from Lake Forest College in 2002 where he played football, basketball and track and field.
He was inducted into the Lake Forest Athletic Hall of Fame in the fall for his work with the Spartans.
After high school, he attended West Virginia University where he studied criminology and sociology and also continued his athletic career, playing football for the Mountaineers.
However, an accident whilst helping out in his father’s shop changed his course and put his football career on hold.
“My sophomore year of college I was in a tragic accident and lost feeling in my left hand,” Scott said. “My dream up until that point was to become an NFL football player.”
Although his goals in life quickly changed, he never gave up and continued doing what he always loved.
“There’s a buzz of excitement as I write down and think of creative ideas to put in the book,” Scott said.
He hopes his work will inspire those who don’t have a voice to use writing as a form of expression.
“As a teacher, I’ve found that some people don’t like speaking but they do like writing,” Scott says. “I want to give them a space to write down what they feel and think.”
Scott hopes to publish more books in the near future, currently working on a children’s exercise book and a book called “Build Your Confidence and Become a Better You.”
This is a self-help book aimed at teenagers that will help them navigate life.
“We plan to publish three new books within the next year and a half,” Scott said. “And hopefully expand the company.”
His main goal as a writer is to provide knowledge to his readers, no matter how small.
“I hope they take something away from the book,” Scott says, “whether that’s a little mustard seed or a big mango seed.”
“I just want them to get something out of it. That’s why I’m doing this.”
“Could You Exercise With Me Please?” is available at Barnes and Noble.
