My Passion for Reading and its Contribution to My Personal Growth

My passion for extensive and penetrative reading has unequivocally confirmed the truth of a statement once made by the 18th century French Philosopher, Dennis Digerot, â€Å"Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things.† My soul, not merely my intellect, has indeed been elevated to greatness!I began cultivating a reading culture at the age of four, in my Nursery-school days because I appreciated the teachings of my parents and teachers regarding the treasures hidden in the reading culture. Thus I read whatever I could find that caught my fancy.But reading whatever caught my fancy soon gave way to a discriminatory reading habit, because against the moral sense of decency and progressiveness which I owe to my upbringing, I weighed and sifted every idea I came upon.My selection of books soon narrowed to national newspapers, academic literature, poetry and dramatic literature as well as works of political and academic critics.Customarily, I read these selecti ons not as means to an end but as a matter of personal interest in the ideas and information they offered. For instance, I did not read academic books merely to pass my exams but tried to unearth the eye-opening ideas they contained, the sophistication to which they drew attention, and the refinement in mind and in character they recommended.Today, I have a celebrated sense of intellectual discrimination; I know my rights from my wrongs; I have a discerning sense of beauty and appreciation in matters of morals, fashion, arts and literature; I have a mind independent enough to have an uninfluenced say in nearly any matter. I feel my intellect and my soul unfold to the academic and spiritual promise of their individuality!