BOOKS THAT CHANGED US: How Ordinary Students Found an Extraordinary Lesson in Papers

Letters, when put together, turn into words. Words create sentences. These sentences fill out pages, which eventually form a book.  A book opens the door for a new world– whether you’re a bookworm or a casual reader. It can take you to places, can wander your thoughts, can stir your imagination, and can change someone’s life. Through a series of interviews with ordinary students, we discovered how books can remain with a person long after they have read them.

“Taming the Waves” — Understanding Hidden Struggles

Cy, a psychology student, shared that her reading experience with this book was gut-wrenching and heavy to read because it tackled the reality of mental health. After reading, she made a lot of realizations that she eventually applied in real life. “I was at the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong. But I didn’t come here as a psychologist. I am here as a patient,” this line from the protagonist  Elora Chin Valencia stayed with her. She said, “As an aspiring psychology practitioner, mental health is really a tough battle and cannot be cured by creating one antidote…Seeking help from the professionals is actually hard…, but even the therapist needs their own therapist, or else they would lose themselves faster than their patient.”

“The Great Storyteller”— A Story that Sparked to Write More Stories

Danica, who took the Humanities and Social Science strand, said this book inspired her to dream, giving her hope that someday she could become a writer too, not just a writer, but a great storyteller. “To write well, one must listen a lot, read a lot, and think a lot,” she thinks about this line a lot because she applies it in her life. Ultimately, she learned from this book not to try to be perfect because, slowly, things get better.

“The Little Prince” — Read between the Lines

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” For Hazie, this book shows her the different sides of reality, making her reflect on life more. It also reminds her of the things we tend to overlook—the small gestures, the inner worlds of people, the quiet forms of love—are often the ones that matter the most. Hazie learned from this book that growing older doesn’t mean abandoning wonder, and that understanding someone requires more than just looking; it requires seeing with the heart. For her, the message of the book reached her, saying, “The idea that whatever or whoever we choose to care for becomes a part of us. To hold the things I love with gentleness, but with my whole heart.”

“Dead Poets Society”— Live Authentically

“We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering—these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love—these are what we stay alive for.” This very line is marked in Meighzy’s heart. She described how this book made her realize how powerful it is to live in a way that’s fully her own — that there is more to life than expectations and routines—that there is beauty in choosing, in feeling, in daring. “The book didn’t change me in a dramatic, overnight way, but it stirred something quiet inside me, the part of me that wants to live honestly and with intention,” she said. It also made her reflect that even if life scares her, this book showed her a different dimension in life that is worth a heartbeat. The idea that stayed with her when she finished the book is that “You don’t have to wait for permission to start living in a way that feels true to you.”

“Atomic Habits” — One Step At a Time

The idea from this book that stayed the most with Faith is “Small habits are not just actions — they are votes for the person you want to become.” She said it makes change feel less overwhelming, reminding her that every tiny action, like reading one page, studying for five minutes, choosing water over soda, is a small “vote” for her future self. Faith also added that this book taught her that good habits become easier when she changes her environment, focuses on systems instead of motivation, and builds habits based on the kind of person she wants to become. It made her feel more in control of my routines, more aware of her behaviors, and more confident in improving her life one small step at a time.

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” — Keep Moving Forward

Tony, who chose this book, admitted that although popular, this book is a bit overrated. Nevertheless, this is the one that stuck with him and changed him the most. “Reading it made me realize that everyone goes through awkward phases and that it’s okay to be a little messy or imperfect,” he said. Tony also mentioned that Greg Heffley’s life is chaotic and fun.  And somehow it made him feel less alone in his own everyday struggles, especially in school, making him laugh, but also reminded me not to take things too seriously. The message that stuck with him the most is that “Life doesn’t always go the way you want it to, and that’s okay, just keep moving forward.”

“Chasing the Sun”— Things Get Better

It’s difficult to encounter a book that heavily resonates with you. But for Sam, Chasing the Sun is that book, depicting coming-of-age struggles that young people like her can relate to. The story showed her the reality of adult life and the hardships that come along with it. You’ll really need to get through it, but in the end, you’ll overcome it and make your dreams come true. This book is her reminder that things will get better. Despite the hardships that she faced, with the encouragement from her friends, love from her family, and perseverance in her, anything can be possible.

“Talk Like TED”—A Lesson on Public Speaking

“Each person must find his or her own passion in the topic to make an authentic connection with the audience.” This line struck Ryu the most. For her, this book broadened her knowledge about public speaking and improved her skills. She mentioned, “Connect with your audience emotionally because the brain will more likely to listen if you are connected to them.”  She learned from this book that storytelling is a way to connect with the audience, allowing them to be more focused on what is being said.

More than Just Papers

Reading gives life to books, and together, they are powerful enough to stir something inside you. Whether it’s a self-help book, a classic novel, or a romantic one, no matter what the genre is, the connection we create within the world of a book helps us learn at the very exact moment we didn’t know we needed. The impact does not come from the book itself, but from how we, humans, see our own lives a little differently.