For my column I usually pick a topic that is relevant in my life and right now that topic is reading. With a mom as an English teacher, reading has been a constant in my life. In my personal opinion reading is vital for children to thrive and continue to grow. Not only does reading encourage strong vocabulary, but it also teaches valuable lessons. This rant is definitely something that every student in America has heard at least ten times but I didn’t realize the impact reading had on me til this year. In 10th grade I read The Kite Runner for my English class and I had to annotate each page. I circled the words I didn’t understand and underlined the parts that made me feel certain ways. Now, I am rereading this book again in AP Lit and rereading these annotations. I can visually see the moments where I learned new words, new emotions and ways to express myself. From Dork Diaries to Pride and Prejudice, I have always learned something new from a book and my knowledge is stronger because of it.