"Read ten thousand books, and your pen will be guided as if by the gods" is an ancient Chinese idiom that can be seen in students' textbooks. China's Ministry of Education has published an action plan to further promote reading among students across the nation. With new and diverse book recommendations, the reading scene is expected to be revived not only at schools, but also across society. To contribute to this endeavor, the Global Times launched "My Reading Life" essay contest for middle school students.

Please pick up a pen and share your stories with us at reading@globaltimes.com.cn

Participants will be rewarded once the article has been selected.

Photo:VCG

I started to love reading when I was a little kid. Books are not only a kind of entertainment for me, but also a way of learning and growing. I enjoy exploring different fields and cultures in the world of books, and l appreciate the knowledge and inspiration that reading brings to me.

Since childhood, my parents have bought lots of interesting books for me. Additionally, they always took me to the library once a week. I like the smell of books and the way they feel in my hands. I still remember that my first book was a collection of fairy tales. When I opened the book, it was as if a whole new world had opened up in front of me. The vivid stories and lovely characters in books easily intoxicated me. From then on, l began to cultivate the habit of reading.

Compared to rocket science books that engage children with knowledge of chemistry and science, I found fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella more engaging. 

Cinderella depicts a bitter and sweet story of a young girl who was born in a poor family and constant suffers from being bullied by her sisters. The sad experiences of the girl did not turn her into an unkind person. Instead, the young girl remained kind, innocent and loving. Those good qualities in her essentially brought the young girl the fortune to marry someone who truly appreciated her and who also happened to be a prince. 

Although Cinderella seems to be a Mary Sue story that has sweetened many girls' dreams about being loved, I think its profundity lies actually in how the author depicts the heroine in the story. The young girl is resilient when dealing with bullies; meanwhile she is also daring and always does her best when a life-changing opportunity comes her way. 

One scene from the story touched me the most. Before attending the prince's ball, both of the poor girl's sisters were given glamorous garments and jewelry. The poor heroine had none of these nice treats, but she remained positive and made clothing from the limited fabric she had. Although the garment was not the prettiest, but the good qualities in the heroine were the best accessory to show she was a woman gifted with inner beauty.

As I grew older, my reading interests gradually extended to nature, literature, history, science and other fields. For me, reading books is somewhat like exploring an unknown world. I can "talk" to the interesting characters and souls in the books, so that I won't feel lonely and I feel we live together and I can feel what they feel or suffer. 

I am fascinated by the alien civilizations and future worlds in science fiction, and by the ancient poetry of mountains, rivers and life. These books not only enrich my knowledge, but also build my deeper understanding of the world.

In addition to paper books, I also like reading on electronic devices. This convenient way of reading also allows me to use my time more efficiently and never miss a book.

However, reading also has another side of the coin. Sometimes I get so drawn in by books that I can hardly get out of them and even forget other important matters in life. 

To solve this problem, I began to develop the habit of regular reading and set some reading goals and plans. For example, I limit myself to read a certain number of pages every day, or to read one type of book every week. These methods have helped me better control my reading time and have made reading a healthier and more sustainable habit to me.

In general, reading is an integral part of my life. It brings me endless fun and inspiration, and helps me fly in the ocean of knowledge. 

I believe that as long as we maintain the love and curiosity of reading, we can find our own stories and wisdom in the world of books.

The author is a student at Beijing Normal University Affiliated Experimental High School