By Ally McGivney
Photo by Lacie Slezak on Unsplash
I have a confession. I, a member of The Kudzu Review, did not finish a book for pleasure in the fall semester. Yes, I know it was four months. Among the people that roam the halls of the Williams building, this is an unforgivable sin. However, as a college student with a part-time job who’s involved in multiple RSOs, I liked to spend my little free time rotting on the couch re-watching episodes of my guilty pleasure sitcoms. I simply could not find the time to get lost in a book.
One survey conducted by Bridgewater State College revealed that I’m not alone. Of the students surveyed, only 63% reported reading for pleasure. Yet over 90% agreed that “reading increases knowledge, improves vocabulary, and engages the imagination,” and 70% felt that reading relieves stress. It seems that even though most students can agree about the benefits of reading, only 63% of us can actually make the time.
So, why don’t college students read more? Of the students surveyed, many cited a lack of time for reading for pleasure. This could be due to many reasons, such as homework, a desire to socialize with others, or simply wanting to use free time in other ways. This resonated with Kasey Blake, an Information, Communication, and Technology junior at Florida State University. Kasey, a self-proclaimed reader, said, “I haven’t [read] this semester, but when I have time, I do it all the time.” She specifically “loves a good rom-com moment” and recommends the works of Emily Henry.
Kasey Blake, ICT Junior
While this problem saddens some of us (at least me and Kasey), not all hope is lost. Thankfully, there are some things we can do to keep that literary flame alive. One fix a professor of mine recommended was to bring a book everywhere you go. While I’ve somewhat avoided this out of fear of looking pretentious, in practice it’s really good advice. Even for the most chronically busy of us, there are still a ton of pockets of free time found throughout the day. That ten minutes you spend waiting for the professor to show up or the barista to finish your coffee could be spent with a book in hand.
If you’re looking to lower that screen time and improve your Goodreads profile, one way to do so is to make reading an event. Literally, put it in your calendar as an event. It doesn’t have to be a big deal, but laying out a blanket on Landis, listening to some lo-fi beats, and letting Tallahassee’s autumn breeze cool you down does a lot of good for the soul. It’s a lot easier to find time to read if you specifically make time for it. Look at reading as a form of self-care rather than a chore to return to your reading roots.
Finally, don’t let these statistics freak you out. If you’re like me and are part of the 37% of students who haven’t read for pleasure, you aren’t alone. Even at FSU, that 37% is still thousands of people. Don’t forget to put down the phone and pick up a book.
Ally McGivney recently graduated from FSU with a degree in Media and Communication Studies. She was the layout editor of The Kudzu Review for the fall 2023 semester and is an avid lover of design and writing.
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