Student Life

Reading for Pleasure: Students Discuss Pros and Cons

Alana Hogan, Junior staff writer|February 5, 2020

Reading decreases your stress levels and makes you happier with yourself.

In a time where so many students read for educational purposes, many forget or don’t know what it is like to read for pleasure.

According to a 2014 study, we all should be reading around 19 minutes per day. Younger adults should at least read four minutes a day and older adults should be reading at least an hour.

“Reading relaxes me,” freshman Rylee McKnight said. “Reading is one of the things that comforts me. When I read, I forget about all my problems. It relaxes my brain and I can just go off into a whole new world.”

Studies show that reading can reduce stress, even its just for six minutes a day. While McKnight said she enjoys reading, other students say they prefer to do other things to occupy their free time.

“I plainly just don’t like reading,” freshman Emaree Bell said. “It gives me a headache and makes my eyes hurt. I would watch the movie to understand the book. It’s easier than way. I don’t like to read and I probably won’t read unless I’m forced to.”

Freshman Landrey Moore agrees.

“When I read I can’t focus on just the book,” Moore said. “I think reading is boring and I don’t enjoy it. Plus, I can never find a good book.”

A 2018 study found that 24 percent of Americans said they have not read a book in the past year. Researches have found that reading can broaden the imagination by affecting the right side of the brain, and it can improve brain function and connectivity with the brain.

“Reading is good for you,” McKnight said. “Reading could make you smarter and increase the way you process information faster. It also gives you a place where you can imagine whatever you want and read whatever you want.”