When I was a little kid, my favorite thing about summer was going to the library so I could pick out stacks of books to read. As I grew up, these stacks grew shorter until I stopped visiting the library altogether. I can count the number of books I read in both middle and high school combined on one hand, even managing to skip on multiple mandatory reads every year (thank you sparknotes). It felt as though there was not enough time in the day to squeeze in a few chapters of books even if they were required by my teachers.

I do not exactly know when my lack of reading started, but this summer, books have been my go-to means of entertainment. Diving back into reading was not my first option; however, after not having service for four days straight, it became the only option. So I searched high-and-low for my library card that ran away from me years ago, and decided to buy a book at the local neighborhood Target instead.

Since I have taken up reading less than a month ago today, I have tried to make up for the eight years I spent without a book in my hands – reading four books in their entirety and in the process of finishing my fifth. With multiple trips to the library under my belt, I am happy that my knack for reading quickly returned. I am not one to lecture about the importance of reading because for eight whole years the only books I read were The Great Gatsby, The Fault in Our Stars and Papertowns, butI still believe that teenagers should read more. Just because a person is a teenager or busy with school does not mean they have a "Homework Pass" when it comes to reading.

Truth be told, in high school whenever people said they enjoy reading a good book, I automatically thought they are weird or a nerd when actually they were simply expanding upon their education. Even now, when I tell people that I am reading, the first thing that they ask is if I have turned into a grandma. Who knows, maybe I have – and I do not care.

At the beginning of this summer, I never imagined that books would sneak their way into my life again, but I am glad they did. When you read a book, you are placed into a new world and forget your surroundings. Even better, when you read a book, you forget to check your phone and any social media. Time stands still. The only thing on your mind are the words that graze across the page and the paper between your fingers. So with only a few more weeks left of summer, pick up a book and read a little. Nothing feels better than enjoying a book while tanning at the beach, or even at night under the moonlight. Maybe you will be like me. Pick up a book and only put it down once you have completed the final chapter.