Knowledge, Comfort, and Emotion The Advantages of Reading as an Adolescent

Knowledge, Comfort, and Emotion The Advantages of Reading as an Adolescent By Camryn Bland Youth Columnist Every teenager engages in different hobbies, from gaming to exercising to creating art. Each hobby says something different about the individual, supporting a unique sense of self and interests. However, there is one hobby I believe every teen should partake in, regardless of their personality and interests; that hobby is reading. No matter the person, I believe reading is a pastime which they can connect to and learn from, one page at a time. Many individuals argue they don’t like reading, and they never will. In school, we are forced to study books such as Romeo and Juliet, The Outsiders, and The Lord of the Flies. Most students believe these books are tedious and boring, and I don’t blame them. In high school, we are all forced to read the same content in the same way, which is rarely enjoyable for the students. So, they choose to watch a movie adaptation or read chapter summaries instead of doing assigned readings. If a teen doesn’t enjoy the homework, they declare they hate reading, that it’s a waste of time. However, that’s rarely the truth. I believe everyone has the potential to love reading if they find the right book. When you find the literature that works for you, reading is never a waste of time, but an opportunity to learn, grow, and enjoy yourself. I am an avid reader who enjoys a variety of different genres. I love mystery, realistic fiction, classic, dystopian, fantasy, and even wellness novels; however, you will never see me reading a book regarding sports or war. I know which genres interest me, and I stay away from the ones which don’t. This understanding is critical to developing a young reader. When choosing a book, it’s important to experiment and find what suits your interests. Just because you disliked the classics you read in school doesn’t mean you’ll hate a fantasy novel or a comic book. Despite the common belief, the enjoyment of reading is not limited to academic overachievers or introverted bookworms, it’s something that can and should be experienced by everyone. Enjoyment is just one of the many benefits of reading. Studies have shown reading for just 30 minutes a day improves your critical thinking, vocabulary, writing skills, focus, creativity, compassion, and comprehension, regardless of the genre. When reading, we come across new words and styles, therefore increasing your vocabulary and writing skills. Critical thinking and comprehension is strengthened when analyzing a complex issue within a book, and focus is tested when reading for a long period of time. Choosing books with different perspectives broadens your understanding and compassion by directly putting you in the shoes of others. Literature has even been directly connected to good grades by a 2023 Cambridge University study. This study revealed adolescents who read for pleasure at a young age scored higher on assignments and tests in almost every subject. It is clear that picking up a book is a crucial step in youth development, from grades to compassion to critical thinking. With the right book, you don’t think of reading as learning; instead, reading is a coping mechanism to de-stress. Literature is capable of transporting you to a new world, free from realistic worries, stressors, and pressures. I must admit, tragic books have brought tears to my eyes more times than I can count, but to me, this is a reason to keep reading. Connecting to literature is a great way to experience your emotions in a healthy way, whether those be positive, neutral, or heart shattering. This emotional connection will only deepen if you find a book which you directly relate t0; there are millions of novels currently published, and I am sure you can see yourself in many of them. Not only can you connect with these books, but you may also find like-minded individuals who feel the same way about a particular theme. Book clubs, local libraries, and online platforms are great ways to connect with others through your love for reading. Through literature, you can build a strong, understanding community, one chapter at a time. My hope is that next time you pass your local library, you choose to enter. That you take a few minutes to browse through the sections and pick up a few books which interest you. Maybe you ask a few people for suggestions, make connections through literature. Then, you can start reading. In those pages, I can promise you will find much more than a collection of words; you will find knowledge, friendship, compassion, and growth