March 2, 2023
By Brook D’Andrea
Staff Writer
Today is National Read Across America Day, which celebrates the joy of learning and gives thanks to the parents, caregivers, educators, librarians, authors and community members who invest in America’s children.
Sophomore Gabby Liuba never used to consider herself a reader, but now she said it brings her joy.
“Before the pandemic, I had no interest in reading, it was something I found boring,” Liuba said. “I had a hard time paying attention without getting distracted easily.
Liuba’s attitude toward reading changed in early 2020 when the pandemic hit and she came across a young adult book on TikTok called “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han. Ever since then, leisure reading has been part of Liuba’s weekly routine.
“Picking up a book gives me relief and serotonin to be able to settle down,” Liuba said.
Liuba said reading helps her stay calm and reduces her stress. She said she enjoys reading romance and fiction books, though once in a while she picks up a horror book.
Liuba said reading is not only fun but helpful when it comes to strengthening her vocabulary.
“My writing and vocabulary skills have improved greatly. I learned new words I didn’t know even existed and slowly started to adjust [my] speaking,” Liuba said.
Liuba’s observation reflects the conclusion reached in a 2015 study called “The Influence of Reading on Vocabulary Growth: A Case for a Matthew Effect,” which revealed that above-average readers had a much higher rate of vocabulary growth than average readers.
“Picking up a book gives me relief and serotonin to be able to settle down.”
Health teacher Mrs. Decker also considers herself a reader. She said she began reading regularly in 2013 when she got a Kindle as a Christmas gift. She said when she reads, she feels grounded, peaceful and relaxed. Although she started off reading on a Kindle, Decker said she now prefers physical copies.
“I cannot read on the Kindle before bed because I find the bright light keeps me up,” Decker said.
She said she enjoys reading nonfiction books that cover topics relating to emotional, mental and physical health.
“I am better able to communicate my thoughts through writing when I am consistently reading,” Decker said.
She said she sets aside time to read every day.
“Every student should read at least 10 minutes a day. It will change your life for the better,” Decker said.
Physics teacher Mr. Collin said he reads daily and enjoys reading both fiction and nonfiction including biographies, history, science, science fiction and mysteries.
“I will read almost anything if it looks interesting or is highly recommended,” Collins said.
He said he recently finished reading the fourth “Harry Potter” book, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” on Audible.
“[It had a] great narrator and [was] a nice escape while driving,” Collins said.
Collins said he listens to audiobooks while commuting to work, doing work at home or taking a walk. For convenience, he reads on his Kindle when traveling and at night before going to sleep.
“E-readers like Kindle and Nook made it so easy and effortless to look up an unfamiliar word while reading,” Collins said.
He said he also purchases physical copies of some books, especially if he particularly enjoyed or found value in them.
Collins said when he reads, he feels calm and present.
“There is a correlation between days I have time to relax and read and overall stress levels, but I think the ability to find time to read is a consequence of a less stressful day and not the cause of it,” said Collins.
