When I was little, I never really enjoyed reading. I always associated it with school and homework. Since I was a little boy and, like most of my peers, had a strong hatred for school and all it entailed, I hated reading. When it came to reading for school, I was good at it, but I didn't like it. In fact, I dreaded every time I had to read something for my English class. This continued for the majority of my childhood and well into my adolescence.
It wasn't until I was in 7th grade that I started to really read. It all started with what is considered to be one of the best book series of all time, "Harry Potter." I had been given the first book by a relative a few years before. Of course, I had no interest in reading, so I just tossed the book aside. It wasn't until a year or so later that I picked up the book out of sheer curiosity, opened it up, and almost as if by magic, I fell in love with it. Not only that but at that moment, I fell in love with reading, too.
Ever since then, I found myself wanting to read as much as I possibly could. I found myself beginning to even enjoy the reading material that we were being taught in school. When we started reading poetry in late middle school and early high school, I found myself embracing the material. In fact, reading books for pleasure helped me comprehend the material that was being taught. I can't even begin to list the amount of poetry and short stories that I have read in school that I have only managed to completely comprehend because of my love for reading. In fact, I don't think I could have ever passed my freshman English class otherwise. In this way, I believe that my love of reading has helped me in life. In this example, it helped me in my school life.
I believe that my love for reading has also helped me meet people. A lot of the friendships that I have forged have been because of a common interest in reading. One of my dear friends Ariel and I bonded immensely because of a love for the same book series. This is also true for other friends that I have met throughout my life, too. I know that I will meet many other friends because of our love for reading, and every day that I meet a new friend, I find myself feeling grateful for picking up that book that fateful day.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is that it's OK to love to read. If anyone tries to bully you or say that you're wasting your time reading and not hanging out with friends, know that it's OK. It's OK because you will definitely find people with the same interests in you and you will most likely bond with them. I know, because I have gone through the same thing, and I am proud of my love of reading each day, too.
