Teenagers’ desire to read is ever-so-decreasing, shows a study done in 2022.
According to Desmetmirror.com, 80 percent of teenagers do not willingly read on a daily basis.
Different teens have different perspectives on reading. For example, sophomore Ben Wallace, is an avid reader, reading an estimated 10 books a month. According to Wallace, reading has helped him in a few ways.
“It’s definitely improved my vocabulary. It’s primed me to learn new things,” Wallace said.
Sophomore Elizabeth Miller, agrees with Wallace. She finds that reading helps in other areas.
“It expands my vocabulary, my imagination and it just gives me a chance to escape from reality,” Miller said.
Junior Skylar Dixon has a differing perspective. Although it has been encouraged, she does not read due to lack of enjoyment, but this comes with its downsides. According to Dixon, she does struggle in a few areas because she does not read.
“Probably in English. It’s a little difficult because I don’t read and I don’t pay attention when they are reading,” Dixon said.
Not only does lack of enjoyment drive people away from reading, but also life itself, according to librarian Kim Ray.
“Teens are so busy with school, work and home responsibilities that it’s hard for them to find time to read. It’s so easy to get sucked into social media too without realizing how much time we waste just mindlessly scrolling on our phones,” Ray said.
Students not only struggle in class, but it reflects on their grades as well, according to English teacher Brittney Roberts.
“I have noticed a direct correlation between students who read for pleasure and higher test scores,” Roberts said.
Test scores are not the only benefit to reading, according to Roberts. Reading improves endurance, vocabulary and an internal voice.
Ray states another added bonus is an improvement of emotional intellegence.
“Besides all the documented research that tells us reading improves vocabulary, writing skills and test scores, but most importantly reading helps develop our emotional and social intellegnce,” Ray said.
Crossrivertherapy.com backs up Ray’s statement by revealing that reading can imoprove emotional development by 50 percent to 100 percent.
Reading has multiple benefits that help in school. For students who are looking to improve in any area, it can all start with picking up a good book.
