When I was younger I never really felt comfortable in large groups or going out with people I didn’t know. I was always shy and tended to stay to myself. Growing up reading allowed me to escape reality. It gave me an opportunity to be myself. To not have to worry about what other people thought of me. It helped me cope with my anxiety when it got terribly bad. Whenever I would get anxious I would try to distract myself by reading. I would read for hours on end, never moving from my spot until I finished the book. I would finish books within 3 days at a time. It gave me that chance to glance into other people’s lives without having to face the anxiety it would cause actually reaching out to people.

My love of reading allowed me to grow as a person. It gave me a chance to experience life in different ways than one. It gave me an insight into what life would be like for other people. I love reading because it allows me to learn about the culture of the world. It allowed me to become more grounded with the world. I read so many books where the main characters lives were not the stereotypical way of living. I learned about what it would be like living in Pakistan, South America, Australia and many other countries. I even read books that have dated back to the 18^thcentury. Reading is something that captures the mind but also enraptures the heart. It allows the mind to expand and empathize with the characters. When you become captured into a book the plot seems real. You become so invested that you start to become connected with the lives of the characters. I learned to have empathy for people who come from different backgrounds.