When I was younger, I used to devour books.

I’d read novels cover-to-cover within an afternoon, and had a special book light so I could continue reading into the night. The local Barnes & Nobles became my happy place, and the library - where the librarians grew to know me by name - was my second home. There was - and still is - truly no better feeling than being transported to a world entirely different from my own - one where monsters and magic were not outlandish concepts, but instead part of the reality.

However, as I have grown up and entered high school, reading has become less of a given in my life and more of a luxury. Rather than start reading more, as would be expected, I have been reading less and less. Admittedly, the only reading I do now is the required reading for my classes.

This is because school is demanding - very demanding. The school day is never-ending, the homework is tedious, and participating in extracurriculars only lengthens out the already tiresome day. With a full International Baccalaureate course load, I feel as though I need to take time out of my schedule just so to breath - so allocating a few hours to sit on the sofa and read is impossible.

Now, I do not mean to complain - I fully realize that I am not the only student who receives copious quantities of work, and who does not have the time to participate in their hobbies and favorite activities. I also realize that my problems could potentially be avoided through adopting better time management skills, or participating in fewer activities.

Still, even while my problem of not having the time to read could be avoided, the issue is that it exists in the first place.

Why is the school system so overwhelming that reading - an educational activity - is impossible? Why is the workload so unmanageable that it demands all free time to be accomplished? Why must students sacrifice all free time - and in some cases their mental health - for school?

By not reading, I am missing out on not only a world of information, but the chance to be immersed in countless worlds as well. My literacy skills have also declined, as I no longer retain read information as well as I used to, and my vocabulary has stopped expanding as it used to. So, I have taken it upon myself to resolve this issue in the only way I know how - to read more.

Now, since my love for reading ironically stems from television, I chose to go back to my “roots” to rekindle my inspiration and desire to read. Namely, I turned to Rory Gilmore, a main character of Gilmore Girls. Rory’s arc on the show is defined by her love for books and learning, and can be spotted with a paperback in nearly every scene.

Throughout the show, Rory either reads or references 339 books - ranging everywhere from

American to Russian literature and from plays to novels. And to ensure that I read more, I have made it my goal to read every single one.

Nevertheless, I still long for a day - or week - where I could do nothing but read, just as I did in my childhood. It saddens me that this aspect of my life has passed, instead replaced by a world of increased responsibilities and decreased time. But growing up yields more opportunities to experience the world around me, rather than worlds hidden within storybook pages, and perhaps the chance to start my own story.