title: Converting a string to a symbol
body: <p>I am trying to read a string from an array and convert it into a symbol without the quotes <code>""</code>. For example, given:</p>
  
  <pre><code>my_array = ["apples", "oranges", "pears"]
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I would like variable <code>my_first_fruit</code> to return <code>:apples</code>. I tried:</p>
  
  <pre><code>my_first_fruit = my_array[0].to_sym
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>but, it comes out as:</p>
  
  <pre><code>my_first_fruit = :"apples"
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and I cannot seem to get rid of the <code>""</code>. If I type</p>
  
  <pre><code>my_first_fruit = "apples"
  my_first_fruit.to_sym
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>It then returns <code>:apples</code>. Why is that?</p>