College is stereotypically classified as a studious time of life when we all walk around as variations of Rory Gilmore having discussions worthy of Aristotle himself. While I commend those who actually live up to such a standard, even as an English major I admit to falling short: from reading the back of a book instead of the inside, to calculating the amount of classes I can nap through and still get an A, and the deeply rooted feeling of regret come finals week.
For most of us, college is about more than school. It's about making lifelong friendships, watching SEC football, growing intellectually, and maturing into the person you've always dreamed of being.
Here's the deal: Reading consistently will boost the quality of your success in each of those areas. Pick up something -- anything -- a newspaper or magazine article (hey, you're already on the right track here), a short story, a children's book, a picture book, a how-to book, a cookbook, fantasy, sci-fi, a long-neglected favorite, whatever! It's worth your time, and here's why.
1. People who read are interesting.
Even if your reading just consists of keeping up with the news, you're far more interesting than an average Joe who might read his Twitter feed on a good day. Your friends will appreciate your company and conversation.
2. Reading boosts your creativity.
When something inspires you, it also calls you to action. It might be as obvious as picking a recipe out of a cookbook, but you'll find an increase in innovation the more you read and learn.
3. Reading for pleasure increases your capacity to focus on required reading.
Messing around on your phone will completely destroy your ability to focus. We're all already trained to immediately react to a notification lighting up our screen, so the least we can do is start being more intentional about how we spend our down time. When reading becomes a habit completely outside of class, reading for class becomes a lot more doable. Maybe reading your five-pound physics book cover to cover isn't going to happen, but you just might make it through a few chapters without needing to pause for a study break.
4. There is something out there for you.
If you think you don't like to read, you probably just haven't found the right book yet. When trying to be "well read," people gravitate to the classics. Skip Barnes & Noble's half-price classics section if it's not your thing, and go find something you are excited to pick up.
5. You do have time.
Even if it's just a goal of a chapter a day, everyone has time to read.
6. You're likely to get a better job after graduating.
Having a great vocabulary inevitable follows those who read, and knowing what to say and saying it eloquently is a necessary component to future success.
7. The benefits multiply.
Knowledge begets knowledge. We are always absorbing and learning, but few decide to actually take control of those things we learn and absorb. You could keep defaulting to being influenced by a social-media world -- or you could start taking control of your thoughts, ideas, dreams, and opinions.
