When I think back to my childhood, some of my fondest memories were spent at the library. I remember being like a kid in a candy store roaming through the aisles to find a new book to read and forcing my mom to check out countless books. There was nothing more fascinating than bringing stacks and stacks of books to my mom to sift through in the kid's corner. After I would find a few I'd like, we would check them and out and bring them home for me to read in the coming weeks, and the process would start all over again.

Yet somewhere along the way, the joy of reading was lost. Suddenly I fell into the category of most kids who felt reading to be a chore, especially in junior high and high school. Through the years, most of the books I read in school were either boring or too difficult for me to comprehend. And even the ones that were great were diminished because of all of the annotating, quizzes, and projects that came along with it. So even when I had the free time to read, the thought of picking up a book never interested me.

I was so excited when I took Creative Writing my senior year of high school because of one of its biggest perks--we got to choose the books we read, even for summer reading. I remember going to the book store to pick a book and feeling like that little girl all over again. Suddenly, reading became enjoyable again and that felt great. However, one of the most important things that I can recall my Creative Writing teacher saying that year was, "You can't be a good writer until you can become a good reader." I remember this quote sticking with me and was glad that I was starting to get back into reading again, but I couldn't really grasp what he meant by that. Well, until now.

Flash forward to the present. Being in quarantine and having a lot of extra time on my hands has kind of allowed me to pick up on a new hobby. In these last few months, I have transformed into a BOOKWORM. I have been reading 24/7, finishing nearly four to five books every single week. I've also recently received a Kindle which has only upped my reading experience to the next level and I'm obsessed. I'm serious for any of you who say they love the feeling of a book and refuse to read any other way has certainly never held a Kindle Paperwhite. I have found it to be relaxing and stimulating all at the same time, as well as just therapeutic. There is truly nothing better than sitting outside and getting tan while reading a good freaking book.

I've also tried to challenge myself by expanding my reading to new genres. Of course, I will always love my young adult and romance novels and don't plan on stopping, I've also read plenty of nonfiction and memoirs, historical fiction, and even reading some thrillers (which if you know me is a huge shock considering I've never watched a scary movie in my life). This has allowed me to go out of my comfort zone and encourage myself to hopefully one day also write new genres. You can easily read a book and take inspiration for your own writing without having the need to copy it. I am sure that is how the best writers have produced their work, and I am excited to continue to research a wide variety of authors and writing styles.

Since I enrolled in two Creative Writing classes and finally decided to declare it as a second major last semester, I finally understand what my high school teacher was talking about. Even when I'm reading for fun, I am catching myself looking at the details of the writing. I now pay attention to elements of plot, strong details, character development, voice, and "show, don't tell" (if you know, you know). I notice both good qualities and the bad, or maybe just the things that I wouldn't want to replicate in my own writing, and it's honestly super helpful. I am confident that this is going to help me as I continue to grow and become a better writer.

Another thing that reading has helped me with, and something that is extremely relevant especially in today's world, is the ability to educate. Since the murder of George Floyd and the call to fight for anti-racism, I have tried my hardest to learn more about the movement and help do my part. In the last few weeks, I have been staying informed mostly through reading, whether that is through reading novels or current/past articles that I've found online. I truly think reading is one of the best ways to retain information. Being able to step inside the shoes of the character not only makes for an entertaining story, but it also makes for such a beneficial and educational experience. I am hopeful that staying informed on topics like the Black Lives Matter movement is so important not just for my own well-being and contribution to making the world a better place, but in the hopes that this can one day translate into my own writing. I write not just to express my thoughts out, but to also hopefully make the world a better place. If my words are able to make an impact on just one person, then I have done my job. I applaud all of these people for their bravery in sharing their stories about something that is important to them (whether fictional or not) and hope that one day I will have the platform to share mine.

Overall, I am so thankful that I have found joy in reading again, and it couldn't have come at a better time. There is no better feeling than diving into a really good book and getting sucked in from the first page. I feel as though reading has not only served as a restorative, calming, and even informative experience, but it also has the power to help me be able to express my own thoughts and feelings one day. As a writer, I finally know the importance of being a reader, and I can't wait to put these valuable skills to use one day.