I have always and will always proudly proclaim myself as an avid consumer of books. It was not until sixth grade in my discovery of the glories of vampire teen fiction, that I achieved full bookworm status. From the period of sixth to ninth grade, I was obsessed. Aside from sleeping and the occasional family dinner, I never set a book down. I locked myself in my room sitting in my pink chair, while my small collection of books grew into my personal library. Much to the resentment of my sister, I chose books over the company of others. When I got to high school, I lost a lot of my free time to extra curriculars and homework, but I didn't lose my love for reading.
As I reflect back on the endless hours I spent shifting and squirming in that pink chair reading book after book, I found myself questioning whether I could have spent my time more effectively, what had I gained from those years holed up in my room? Looking back there is nothing I would have done differently. I will never regret the time I devoted to reading. The experience has completely shaped me into who I am today, providing me with lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Being a bookworm has taught me that...
1. You will never regret staying up all night to finish a good book
Whenever I pull an all nighter whether for school or evenings of tom-foolery, I am guaranteed to come out with an overwhelming sense of regret for my poor decisions. Never once have I finished a book at 7:00 AM just in time for school and wished I had done otherwise. Sleep is worth sacrificing if it means achieving some resolution for the characters that I have come to know and love.
2. Imperfection is a part of being human
Perfect makes for a boring story. Being able to connect with characters like Holden Caulfield showed me that I am not alone in my flaws and uncertainties. Experiencing all variety of characters from every kind of genre taught me to accept myself for who I am, faults and all.
3. Confidence is key
Part of being a bookworm means always feeling a little bit on the outside. What I learned from this experience is that its ok to be different as long as you are confident in yourself. Be comfortable and fearless in the person you are and the opinions of others grow smaller and smaller.
4. Life is beautiful
Books are capable of showing all variety of life; the good, the bad, and the ugly. The elegance in the words ability to act as a reflection of life has allowed me to see the beauty in living. Books have given me the understanding to appreciate the ups and downs and to better accept the things I cannot change.
5. There is no limit to what you can learn
I have lived hundreds of lives, in countries all around the world from the comfort of my living room. Reading has taught me more than any amount of school instruction could. I will never stop reading so I will never stop learning. I will always and forever remain a proud bookworm.
