I read books because it provides me with a fantastical, albeit brief, escape from reality. Day to day life, especially during the high school years, can be very stressful and it wears me down both physically and mentally. After a long day of notes and tests there is nothing more relaxing than being able to jump into the pages of some grand tale or adventure. In a matter of minutes I can become anything: a student at Hogwarts, a teenager fighting for my life during a Japanese Battle Royale, or even one of Miss Peregrine's peculiar children. Throughout my life I have always found reading to be a fun activity. No other activity utilizes the imagination so thoroughly or effectively as reading.
Besides reading for fun, I also read to learn. I am a true believer that reading is the most direct gateway to knowledge. Not only is there a limitless amount of information to be gained from the books themselves, but I have found that even the act of reading helps me learn. The night before a big test, be it anything from Math to Chemistry, I will typically pick up a book and try to crank out a few chapters before bed. It could be that this only works for me, but I've found that I almost always perform better on tests if I had an opportunity to read the night before.
