Nowadays, the action of reading doesn’t always shine under the brightest light, especially for teenagers. And sure, reading isn’t always the easiest thing to tell yourself to do. It can be hard to enjoy sitting down with a book, silently scanning the pages while your mind tries to take everything in. If you were to ask a bunch of teenagers when the last time was that they’ve read a book, I can bet that it would probably be a long time ago. At the beginning of the school year, my English teacher asked us all to stand up if we had read a book over the summer. Out of about 20 people in my class, only two people stood up.
Technology has a big effect on this. Our attention spans weaken each time we aimlessly scroll on our phones. Some people even claim that they’re reading on their phones when they scroll on social media. “I read the comments on each post, though,” is a common explanation I’ve heard my friends claim. It’s not the same.
Social media has too big of a grasp on a lot of us. We rely on it because it requires little concentration, and it gives us immediate stimulation. It’s so easy to pick up your phone and scroll endlessly. Even the thought of picking up a book can seem like a comparatively impossible task, but technology isn’t the only thing to blame.
Ever since elementary school, kids are often forced to read books together as a class. Reading is incredibly important at a young age. Over time, when kids have a better understanding of different types of books and reading in general, school systems turn reading into a chore rather than a hobby. When students don’t get a choice over what they read, along with writing notes and even essays on them, it’s hard for many to enjoy the process of reading the book. Reading is such a powerful skill, and it can offer so many advantages to those who embrace it.
A truly powerful book can leave a mark that stays with you, altering your views on love, relationships and the world in ways you never anticipated. However, I understand that reading isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, just like other school subjects are not everyone’s favorite. But I feel like so few people nowadays have experienced the power of genuinely good literature.
If you haven’t in a while, give reading another chance. You might be surprised by how much it can offer you once you find a book that speaks to you.
