The Power of Reading by Itzel

The Power of Reading by Itzel - August 2022 Scholarship Essay

When I was fifteen, I read the "Harry Potter" books for the first time. I read all seven books in under a month. Then I read them again. Never in my life had I been so involved with a series of books; from then on, I came to love reading. As my Junior year began, I realized that I hadn’t picked up a book since the Summer. I didn’t read anymore. This year, I want to prioritize reading again and make it part of my routine.

To read a book is to become completely immersed in a different world. The feeling you get when you finish a good book is completely underrated. It’s like waking up 30 minutes before your alarm rings. Like sipping your favorite coffee. Like smelling pumpkin spice in the air on a cool fall day. Like hugging someone you dearly missed. Like listening to your favorite song. And all because of a book! Not only does reading bring an immense feeling of joy and satisfaction, but it’s calming to the mind. You become involved with the characters in the book so much that you soon forget your own anxieties and problems. Your worries don’t follow you into the book; they stay away from the thick paperback in your hands.

For my senior year, I want to bring reading back into my routine. Reading makes me feel safe. It makes me feel calm. The power that words can have on a thin piece of paper is overlooked. Many people may not realize it, but reading takes you to a whole new world. Who wouldn’t want to travel to a new world for free? On top of that, reading builds vocabulary. I will always remember the word “pulchritudinous” because I read it in a book (it means beautiful). The benefits of a great book are infinite.

I am not proud to say that I didn’t read much during my Junior year of High School. But I want to start it up again this academic school year. I want to leave my worries behind. I want to immerse myself in a different life. I want to learn about different characters and personalities. There are few leisure activities that can provide so many opportunities for growth, learning, calmness, and living a double life.