Being an English Major, I find language and words fascinating. I think it is amazing how you can be transported to another world simply by reading a few words on a page. The power of words is immense; however according to the Literacy Project Foundation, "Illiteracy has become such a serious problem in our country that 44 million adults are now unable to read a simple story to their children". This is shocking and while many might view illiteracy as an insignificant problem, it affects all aspects of our life and our country. Literacy Project Foundations also states, "Approximately 50% of Americans read so poorly that they are unable to perform simple tasks such as reading prescription drug labels".

This is so sad to me. It's something I am really passionate about because "44% of American adults do not read a book in a year and only 6 out of 10 households do not buy a single book in a year" (Literacy Foundation). For me, books shaped my entire life. Yes, as a child I loved to play outside (kind of), be with my friends and siblings, and play games. But my favorite thing to do was read. Call me nerdy, call me lame, but reading helped me become more creative, explore whole words between the pages of a novel, and learn about the world in ways I couldn't have otherwise. Reading is so important to the development of a child and to their creativity.

That is why I care about this cause. It is affecting our society and the future of our natios. It is halting developmental needs and also, according to the Literacy Company, "costing business and taxpayers $20 billion for illiteracy".

While there are a lot of shocking and unsettling numbers I could keep throuwing at you, I want you to think about how reading has changed your life and what it would be like to be unable to read.

Illiteracy is a problem in our nation and we need to stop it. Simply, reading 15 mins a day can expose you to over a million words a year! So go pick up a book!