Reading is a skill, yes; but reading should not stay 'just' as a skill. When people talk about reading, the first thing that comes to the minds of most of our teenagers will be the correct spelling and pronunciation of words. Reading should not be limited in knowing how to read a sentence in front of the class, or so you could memorize your reviewers.

When I hear students talk about reading, most comments would be like “That short story that we were asked to read is not even short!” irritably, or “I have a text message, wait I'll read it.” excitedly, and sometimes “Did you read my status on FB?” curiously.  READ was used as a verb in those three comments, yet the real reading was used only once, let alone that it is in a negative manner. I believe I have a reason to be sad for our teenagers.

Reading is suppose to be a form of getting information—learning. It is suppose to be a form of entertainment. Why is it that younger people seem to think that reading (a short story or a book) is some kind of a punishment? In fact, if I have to read a short story as an assignment, I'd be glad. Imagine trigo and calculus.

I have been thinking where have I been when people have lost interest in reading books, when books instead of figurines became displays in the living room (do not touch them!), when books instead of sleeping pills are being prescribe to those who have insomnia, when books instead of old toys will be found in the basement.

Maybe I was in Hogwarts too busy learning spells with Harry Potter so we could fight He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, or somewhere in the House of Night with Zoey Redbird and friends. I may have been in different countries with the heroins of the infamous Sidney Sheldon, or even in different planets with The Little Prince.

For whatever the reason was, for me not knowing when teenagers started to deprive themselves from the pleasure that comes with reading, I think that the lost of interest have been very abrupt. I maybe be busy wandering around Sweet Valley High, but I have a life in the real world; I look around and observe once in a while. It's like one minute teenagers were holding books and chatting about the characters. Next, everybody's busy making profile banners, texting, copying and pasting quotes in their status, tweeting and retweeting celebrities.

When what could be a 2-hour reading time was spent planting or sowing crops on farmville, or managing a restaurant. I do not have anything against this social networking stuff, to be honest I have accounts on fb, google+, twitter, tumblr, youtube, and other forums. I obviously love the internet.

It's just that I believe teenagers should give time for reading. Try (It's so bring, I'd rather go shopping!) to love and enjoy it. They could gain knowledge from reading. It is something which is worth their time. Something that could benefit them in the long run. If you know how to read, you might as well read.

Reading has many advantages. Most of these advantages could be applied for teenagers. Remember the cliches A good reader is a good leader, Knowledge (which we can get from reading) is power, Patience (which every good reader possesses) is a virtue? Reading will not only help us grow cognitively, but also helps us improve our character.

I hope that our teenagers will be able to experience how to go inside another world through a book, meet new friends there, and learn something from them.

I hope that next time I stop and look around me, I would see students on benches, with books instead of cellphones, inside the library instead of computer shops, and holding bookmarks instead of mouse.