Reading Is My Positive Substance

by Jayda (Kailua), age 12

Reading is my positive substance. For me, reading brings me to a whole new world or dimension. It helps me to escape reality. Suddenly I am viewing a foreign world from the eyes of the narrator. I am battling against ogres or titans or an evil group trying to destroy the whole world. Whenever I read, all my stress from before suddenly subsides. My sadness or anger is turned into joy and happiness. Reading calms me down and helps me to enjoy or relax the peaceful time that I have. Reading takes me on an exciting adventure and also gives me new and exciting experiences. With reading, I don’t need to use negative substances, such as drugs, alcohol, or vaping. Reading also gives me the ability to relieve my stress so I don’t have to use negative substances. Reading is my positive substance.