In a world of distractions, reading remains essential.
By Jesus Cortez, Staff Reporter
When I was in second grade, my teacher would start the day by reading us a chapter from the book “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” If we were lucky, we’d get two chapters. Like a lot of elementary students, I loved storytime, but I never thought too much more about reading anything other than what was assigned to me for class.
That all changed a little over a year ago, when I started reading novels for fun. It began with “The Trial” by Franz Kafka, and now I can’t even begin to explain just how much reading more has changed my perspective on the world.
Reading is such an inspirational activity for me, and one of the principal reasons why I want to become a journalist—because I like telling stories. When I was still in high school, I once had to write a short story based on a novel I had read. I had never done anything like that before, so imagine my surprise when I received a near-perfect score on my assignment.
I’ll never forget the note left on my paper: “A future in storytelling, perhaps? I’d like a copy for myself.” It seems my teacher, Ms. Poland, realized something about me that I hadn’t yet.
There is something about settling in with a book that you can’t replicate with other media. A good novel transports you to a whole new world full of characters and possibilities and twists and turns. TV shows, video games, and movies are often produced by teams of writers, but the beauty of a novel is that it’s the work of a single author—okay, maybe with some occasional help from an editor, but you get the idea.
Some authors take inspiration from their own lives and world experiences to enrich their stories and the dialogue of the characters. In a way, it’s kind of like being able to read the mind of the writer. Each character in a novel offers the reader insight into a new reality. We tend to be so wrapped up in our own lives, that we sometimes fail to consider different perspectives—this is another benefit of a good novel.
And then there’s the way reading sparks the imagination. Unless we’re talking well-known, defined, and established universes like in the “Harry Potter” series or “Lord of the Rings,” it’s unlikely that any two readers will interpret a scene or the look of a character the same way—despite how an author may describe something or someone.
But I think the biggest reason why I think people should read more is because a good book has the potential to change your life for the better. Reading can help us to understand ourselves better and inspire our dreams and aspirations in ways we might not have known otherwise.
In a world where we are always swiping, scrolling, and clicking through the seemingly endless flurry of information and content, to spend time with a good read is to tune out all the noise. Reading helps to re-train our brains to focus and become stronger in a world of mindless distractions.
Although it wasn’t until recently that I discovered a passion for reading, I guess it’s been there inside me all along. Reading is an activity more of us would do well to engage, because it helps us to better engage the world around us. In a time when information comes at us fast and furious—when there’s so much “junk food” for our brains—a good book is almost like a cleanse.
If you haven’t picked up a book in a while, consider this your sign. Even one story can shift your perspective, spark creativity, or remind you how to slow down and think deeply. Reading isn’t just fundamental—it’s powerful.