Murray, NEB- In an era dominated by technology and quick information, the timeless practice of reading continues to hold its magic. For many, reading can be an escape or even give an education.
Reading can have a lot of benefits to someone, whether it’s about connecting, vocabulary, or an impact in the way someone sees something.
Tracy Morton, Conestoga librarian and sponsor of the high school and junior high book clubs, says, “Reading is interesting, because it depends on the book someone were to read. Most have good plots and take your imagination to land. Your thoughts can go all over the place. It depends on how books reach the individual reader, but also how personalities are brought in. Someone could really connect with a piece due to an experience they had, while someone could read that same piece and just move on. Regular reading can also improve things like language skills, increase empathy, and personally even reduce stress”
When asking high school English teachers if books had any impact on personal growth, Amy McHenry said, “It absolutely contributes to personal growth. Without reading or literature, people wouldn’t be able to see or experience other cultures. There’s things people had never seen or heard of before in books. I think reading is a way to connect and reach out, because everyone is limited to their environment.”
Hannah B, an avid book reader, adds on by saying, “Reading benefits you by increasing your vocabulary and you pick up on context clues easier. After enough time and reading, things become natural, and can even go into your everyday life, helping you with things like social cues.”
There’s a vast array of books available today, and McHenry offers simple advice for anyone trying to get into it, “Anyone trying to get into reading should explore any and all genres. Find the authors you enjoy and seek more into their work and find similar writers. You just need to find what you like, because not everyone has to like reading.”
In a world full of distractions, the simple act of reading remains a powerful tool for personal growth and entertainment. The magic of reading lies in its ability to take people to a new world, introduce new ideas, and even change the way you may see the world. Reading can also just be to give you a good laugh, “I just want to read about aliens,” Hannah B exclaimed.
