As young children, we may have never realized what it’s like to live carefree, non-scheduled lives. We may have had all the time in the world to read at school, in libraries or at home. However, in high school, time whizzes faster than a fizzling soda can! With schoolwork, home responsibilities and extracurricular activities…where has the time gone for reading? 

To be able to read is a great joy in life. There’s so much to learn, to enjoy, to understand, to teach and to create. There are thousands of books, magazines and articles on basic to unfathomable topics. The potential of learning is limitless.

However, paper and pencil aren’t exactly the buzz these days. Today, digital media such as streaming services, podcasts and social media provide more addictive and satisfying content for relaxing and unwinding from a long day. The innovative internet isn’t all bad, though; it gives us much faster access to entertainment, information and  news reports across the globe. For example, let’s say you’re doing a research project. You wouldn’t exactly go to the library and read large volumes to find your answer, would you? Of course not! 

No matter the time crunches we face, we should continue to do voluntary and pleasure reading in our society. Scrolling and watching people’s creations or funny memes is stress relieving in moderation, but there’s nothing like turning crisp pages, your fingertips smoothly rubbing the story into your mind. The colorful world that comes to life of characters that might give you a shock once you know their true physical appearances. Or, if you’re more on the non-fiction side, filling your mind with thousands of new facts, becoming more curious with every single one that you learn!

So, the next time you find yourself with a little time on your hands, maybe consider reading to insert yourself into a world you can create of fantasy, perhaps invoking your imagination to manifest scientific, artistic and historical knowledge into a vivid realization.