As a lover of books, I am not new to the idea that reading is perceived as uncool, or that anyone who reads is considered a bookworm. I am one of the millions of children who was mocked in elementary school for finding solace in books.

At one point, that word made me feel ashamed. I didn’t like being made fun of—no one does. But it hurts even more when it’s because of something you’re passionate about. It took me a long time, but I realized that there is nothing wrong with being a bookworm. I love it. My love of reading has molded who I am today, and I wouldn't change who I am.

Here are the four reasons why I’m proud to be a bookworm.

1. The word bookworm isn’t an insult

The word bookworm, to me, had a negative connotation for years. It wasn’t until I was in college did I realize that word wasn’t an insult. It was merely a statement of fact.

The sky is blue, a rose is a flower, and if you love books, then you are a bookworm.

2. I’ve been able to discover new worlds

Reading has allowed be to travel to different worlds and live different lives. Every time I pick up a book, I can become someone new. I’ve already been an alien, a queen, a witch, a stay at home mom, a siren, and much, much more.

3. Reading isn’t something to be ashamed of

I don’t understand why people are judged and ridiculed for a hobby. There are a lot of hobbies out there that provide entertainment for people, but yet they aren’t made fun of.

For example, how come people whose favorite hobby is watching TV aren’t made fun of? Watching television and reading books are both forms of entertainment. They both tell a story. What makes watching television more worthy than reading a book?

The answer is nothing. Nothing makes television more worthy than reading a book, and vice versa. No one should feel ashamed for their interests and hobbies. No one should feel ashamed for loving to read.

4. I’ve made so many friends through books

Yes, I consider characters in books my friends. Ask anyone who loves to read and they’ll say the same thing. Even though they are considered to be fictional, they aren’t to me. They are real people who lived real lives, because I witnessed that through my eyes.

Reading has allowed me to become emotionally involved with different people, fictional or not. Maybe that’s not healthy, but I don’t care. Characters from books have brought me an immense amount of joy, and I see nothing wrong with that.

I’m proud to be a bookworm. I have a list of all the books I’ve read and need to read. I buy books even when I have a shelf full of unread books. I am constantly lurking on blogs to try and find my next read.

It took me a long time to embrace being a bookworm, but I’ve been a much happier person since then.