When I was younger, I never thought of reading as a chore like many of my friends seemed to. I loved to read. Many of my classmates would get upset when the teacher said we had to have quiet reading time. However, I was always overjoyed when this time of the school day came. It meant that it was time for me to get lost in the next novel that I hand-picked from the library.

I would also look forward to library day in school every week. Once a week, each class would get the chance to go to the school library and check out one to four books at a time. I would always be that one kid who would anxiously sit through the librarian reading some children's book so that I could rush to the shelves to pick out the next few works of fiction I wanted to read that week. I was never about those children's books that were mostly pictures. No, I wanted books that were all words. The more words, the more pictures and stories I could invent in my own mind.

This love of books and reading has transferred into my current life as a college student and young adult. It physically pains me that I am not able to read as much during the school year because of the hectic life of a college student. But you can find me reading (and buying) all the books I possibly can during any and all breaks from school.

But why do I love reading so much? Reading allows my mind to escape to a new world. The characters in the novels I read come alive in my mind as soon as I pick up a book. Reading lets my mind slip into the unreal: a life different from my own. When I read, I give my mind the freedom to roam into a new life by envisioning life in the eyes of each of the characters in the story. It's like a vacation for my own mind. It's one of the best feelings. And, sometimes, life can get to be a lot. With all the stresses that life can throw my way, it is often healthy and necessary to give my brain the break that reading allows. Not to mention that reading can build one's imagination and general life skills. It's a win-win!

I also love finding as many quotes as possible in the books I read. Many times my favorite authors write the most relatable content in their books. I cannot help but write them down and keep them in a safe place for a rainy day. They make for great Instagram captions or quotes to look back on when I need a little pick-me-up. Not to mention that I love looking back inside the literal pages of the books I have read and seeing certain words or phrases underlined or highlighted. It's a sort of comfort to me. For this reason, I love investing the money I make from my jobs in books. There is something special about knowing that you own the book in your hands and that you can write all over it or underline anything you want. This is a small happiness that library books simply do not supply.

The next time you are torn between what you can do with your day, consider picking up a book for yourself. Let your mind wander into a different realm. Let it escape into the unreal. It is a great way to unwind after a long day or calm down when things start to get too stressful.