Everywhere I look these days, Society and the cultural feeding grounds has produced yet another standard that woman need to follow or be in to feel accepted by anyone. When I was younger, it didn't occur to me that my weight, appearance, and many other things would contribute to how people saw me, fast forward a couple years and now that's all I can think about, or could. The power of knowledge, books in this case, has created a sort of barrier, a shield, to move me away from societies' standards. I used to think that a woman couldn't love her body or who she is as a peson without being seen as a self centered person, a bitch in their terms. However, reading has shown me that those terms are wrong, I know that loving yourself and being independent and not taking shit from anyone is something to be proud of, it made me realize that I'm not someone who's voice can be drowned out by others, but can be projected. Societies' Standards are to sit still and look pretty, but by reading, it has saved me from becoming that, and instead let me mold myself into who I want to be. Reading has saved me from more than just harsh days, it has given me the chance to live a life that is chosen from the person who's living it, me.