I started reading at the beginning of kindergarten. It was a Sally, Dick and Jane book, and my mom says I pretty much taught myself.

Reflecting on those early school days, I remember weekly class trips to the library, mandatory silent reading every day and listening to the teacher read stories while we sat in a circle and looked at the pictures.

Recently, however, I walked into my friend’s room and saw him sitting in a recliner under a lamp reading. I made fun of him because the scene looked unreal. I later realized I had lost my passion for reading.

I blame it on high school.

Teenagers are known for their rebellious attitudes. When you tell a teenager to do something, their first thought is to do the opposite. I was this teenager when it came to reading.

After elementary school, reading became a more of a chore than a hobby. Instead of taking class trips to the library to pick any book we chose, we were given lists of books to complete over the summer. Instead of making art projects out of the book we read in class, we were forced to write book reports and make presentations.

During this period of my life, I also discovered the burden known as reading textbooks. This problem has only been made worse since I’ve been in college.

The point is, when I was told to read certain books, when adventure and mystery became overshadowed by literary devices and symbolism and when the majority of reading was out of textbooks, the fun that used to come from reading vanished.

I know everything I learned in high school about some of the greatest works of literature was important, and I’m grateful I had an education that emphasized reading. I also can’t say I hated every book I read in high school; some actually became my favorite books. But reading as a hobby ended.

Most of the time, I blamed schoolwork, but the truth was I just didn’t want to spend my time reading. I had 24-hour access to a TV, the Internet and friends.

However, over my college career, especially in the summers, I’ve picked up a book or two during free time. As I began reading, I remembered why I loved it so much. It is so easy for me to get wrapped up in a book. Feeling like I’m part of the story and imagining every detailed scene. I also found books are a path to self-improvement and a way to learn new information and spark original thought.

I’m making another effort to read books that interest me – not just the books I have to read for a class or books I think I should read because other people say so.

Reading isn’t lame. I just had to remember why.