As a child, reading was a form of personal torture. Each word felt like a jagged rock that refused to fit into the puzzle of my mind. Dyslexia made the simple act of reading a complex and frustrating ordeal. Books, to me, were not paths to knowledge or adventure; they were enemies that needed to be avoided at all costs. I remember feeling left behind in the classroom, staring at the page, silently panicking as everyone else seemed to read the lines with no effort. How could something so essential to education, communication, and understanding be so incredibly difficult?
I hated reading. For a long time, I thought it would be that way forever. However, somewhere along the way, that changed. Somewhere in the frustration and struggle, I discovered the power of literature- not just as a tool for learning but a window into the minds of others. Today, I am someone who deeply appreciates poetry, devours a good book, and sees reading not as a chore but as a chance to connect, understand, and be understood.
It was not an easy road. It is not like dyslexia just goes away; there were times when the story seemed more like a kaleidoscope of words than a peaceful escape. However, with the help of my extremely dedicated and patient parents and teachers, I found ways to make reading work for me. Slowly, I learned that reading did not have to be perfect to be meaningful. And then, something remarkable happened: reading became a tool for empathy.
As a young person born into a digital world, I never understood the importance of literature beyond its academic value. I never realized that stories, articles, and poems are not always just ways to learn about facts- they give us glimpses into the human experience. When you read, you have the unique chance to step into someone else’s shoes, to feel their highs and lows. According to Cornerstone University, this improves something called the “theory of mind.” Theory of mind is being able to attribute mental states like beliefs, desires, or emotions to others and understanding that other people have different beliefs, intents, and desires that are different from our own. For me, this is where reading became genuinely transformative. Books became more than just sentences printed on a page; they became links between myself and the vast world around me.
I began to understand how words- once foreign- could create connections across space and time. I realized that it is not about how fast or fluently you read; it is about what you take away from the experience. For someone like me, who once felt excluded from the world of literature, this realization was totally freeing. More importantly, I saw how reading could foster incredible amounts of understanding between people.
We live in an extremely divided world, which is why reading has become more critical than ever. We are quick to judge others based on differences and slow to listen, but books offer us the chance to listen deeply. When we read, we can step outside of ourselves and see the world through someone else’s eyes; the more we read, the more we learn to empathize. When we take the time to read someone else’s story, like an essay about poverty or a novel about an immigrant’s experience, we get a deeper understanding of the forces that shape people’s lives. A potential opponent can become someone we sympathize with when we learn their story. Simply put, reading allows us to challenge the assumptions that divide us and create more space for compassion.
Through reading, I have learned that our differences do not polarize us as much as many might think today. We may not share the same background, beliefs, or experiences, but through words, we are likely to find common ground. Reading reduces stress, helps your sleep, and improves your mood; there is not a negative thing about it. According to Cornerstone University, elderly people who do mental activities like reading regularly are 32% less likely to experience cognitive decline. In fact, a lifetime of reading can decrease a person’s chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease. With every book I have read, my understanding of the world has grown, and with every poem I ingest, I am once again reminded of our shared humanity. We may never agree on everything, but when we read each other’s stories, we begin to speak the same language.
Looking back, I can not help but be shocked at how far I have come. The child who once avoided books is now a passionate reader and a writer, too, who uses literature to connect. Perhaps the most important thing I have learned is that reading is not a personal journey but a shared one. We open ourselves to the experiences of others when we read. Through that exchange, we can realize that we are all in this together.
So, to anyone who struggles with reading or feels like the words on the page do not hold weight, I urge you to grab a book and keep or start reading. It is not about how skillfully you read or how fast you get through the book. The power of reading is not solely rooted in knowledge, but in understanding each other.
By Daniella Pacheco
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