When
you graduate from middle school, you get a title everybody votes on or something
everybody thinks you are - kind, most likely to succeed, most likely to get
married first, funny, gamer, and so on. Guess what my 8th grade title is
going to be for graduation? The
Bookworm, and it’s a title I’m proud of. If you define a book as magical
pages filled with brilliant ideas in words and pictures, then you love books as
much as I do.
According
to the research done by Mindlab International at the University of Sussex, reading
is the most effective way to overcome stress. "It
really doesn't matter what book you read, by losing yourself in a thoroughly
engrossing book you can escape from the worries and stresses of the everyday
world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author's imagination,” Dr.
David Lewis, who works at the University of Sussex explained. Reading not only is enjoyable but also benefits people’s health. (Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/12/health-benefits-reading_n_4081258.html)
Although
I try to read biographies and non-fiction articles, I mostly read for pleasure. Currently, I’m
catching up on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, for the millionth
time. J.K. Rowling intrigues me with daring rescues and climaxes in this
story. I also just finished The
White Rabbit Chronicles by Gena Showalter. Showalter, like Rowling,
has invented the craziest story ideas. In her books, there are zombies
and spirits. In the Harry Potter series, there are wizards, witches, and broomsticks. Wouldn’t you pick up fantasy books like these
over monotonous biographies?
I try to encourage everyone to read, but I think the only reason
kids aren’t reading is because they think reading has to come from a textbook.
Well, that’s not true. Reading could be anything: newspapers,
articles online, books, essays, etc. It doesn’t always have to be boring.
The most magical books can inspire: morals and lessons lie in the path ahead.
Fables are one example of stories with morals. The Tortoise and the Hare taught us that determination and moving
forward the whole trip could make anything possible. The Harry Potter
series taught us that true bravery, love, and determination could overcome even
the darkest, scariest times - Volde…Brrrrrrr!!!!
To
all those parents out there who think that fairy tale books are useless, think
again. Fairy tales teach kids how to deal with their problems.
Every story has a problem and a solution; fairy tales are stories, and
they show solutions to every problem.
Furthermore, fairy tales enhance a child’s imagination and can make life
seem almost magical. As Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more
important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination
encircles the world.” Even as the smartest man during his generation, he
chose imagination over knowledge, which is noteworthy.
All in all, reading is something I mostly
do for fun. Who knows? Maybe
someday I’ll write my own fantasy novel. I’ll start with blank pieces of
paper, a pen in hand, and my imagination.
And I know one thing for sure - I’ll always be known as “The Bookworm”,
and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.
2 comments:
Dear The Bookworm, I recalled the first time I met you, you had a thick novel in your hands and was buried in that for a good hour. You definitely earned that title. However, you've come a long way from three years ago, and really, your friends should consider a new title for you: The Wordsmith Bookworm. : )
You used some good adjectives.
Branden
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