Just one more page…

There's a very familiar saying among book lovers: "Just one more page…".

It sounds simple. But behind that statement lies a whole world .

A student who can read deeply will be able to think deeply (pictured: Teacher and students at Xuan Dieu Junior High School (My Tho ward) during a tutoring session). Photo: DO PHI

It's that moment when your hand is about to close the book, the clock is ticking late, but your heart refuses to stop. It's when you promise yourself you'll go to bed early, but the story is unfinished, the characters are at a turning point, and you can't bear to leave.

"A reading culture not only produces people who are proficient in reading, but also people who know how to feel, think, and put themselves in the shoes of others."

"Just one more page…", sometimes that's the sweetest procrastination in life.

Reading is not an obligation.

Reading a book is an encounter.

Meeting a complete stranger.

Encountering a bygone era.

I encountered a question I had never dared to ask myself.

And perhaps that is the deepest value of reading.

Someone once recounted that they grew up in a modest home, but there was always a small corner dedicated to books. Not a large bookshelf, not an expensive collection, just a few old books, their paper faded, but enough to open up horizons far beyond the confines of their home.

There are books that don't make us rich instantly, don't give us formulas for success, and don't promise shortcuts. But they quietly sow in our hearts a seed of curiosity, empathy, and a different perspective on the world.

Books don't change circumstances immediately.

But books change the way we view situations.

When we understand more about people, history, and the pain and joy of others, we are less quick to judge. When we read about journeys of overcoming difficulties, we gain more faith in our own steps.

Reading culture doesn't start with large conferences.

It all began on a quiet evening, with parents holding books and the child sitting beside them.

From a corner of the library where students find their first book that "suits their taste."

From a teacher who not only lectures but also talks about the joy of reading with a sparkle in his eyes.
Some students initially dislike reading. For them, books are a burden, a test, a source of grades. But with the right book at the right time, a story that touches something deep within, they can change. Not because they are forced, but because they find themselves interested.

Reading culture cannot be imposed.

It can only be evoked.

Some people ask whether reading is still important in the age of technology. When all information is just a few taps away, when short videos flash by faster than a page of a book, does sitting quietly with a book still have a place?

From a corner of the library where students find their first book that "suits their taste" (pictured: Reading time at Nguyen Hue Primary School, Thoi Son Ward). Photo: DO PHI

Perhaps it is precisely because everything moves so fast that we need moments of slowing down even more.

Reading is a way to slow down.

Slow down to think.

Slow down to listen to your inner voice.

In a noisy world, books are like a profound moment of silence. Not loud, not sensational, but enduring.

Some educators understand that teaching is not just about imparting knowledge, but about igniting a love of learning. And one of the most sustainable ways to nurture that love is through reading.

A student who knows how to read deeply will know how to think deeply.

A young person who can read from multiple perspectives will be able to see life from multiple angles.

A reading culture not only produces people who are proficient in reading, but also creates people who know how to feel, think, and put themselves in the shoes of others.

"Just one more page..."

Perhaps that's what a child would say if they were captivated by an adventure story.

It could be the work of an adult who finds themselves reflected in the pages of literature.

It could be from a teacher who is still awake, pondering over tomorrow's lesson.

But ultimately, it's a gentle reminder that we are still curious, we still yearn for knowledge, and we still believe that the world is bigger than what we see.

As each new year approaches, perhaps we don't need too many grand promises. Just tell ourselves that this year, we will read a few more books. Not to show off, not to accumulate achievements, but to nourish ourselves. Because every book we read, even if it's just "one more page," silently expands our souls a little.

And when many hearts open up, society will become more generous and kinder.

Ultimately, reading culture is not just about books.

It's the story of a community that values ​​knowledge, knows how to listen, and knows how to go far with depth.

LE MINH HOAN

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/chi-mot-trang-nua-thoi--a238261.html