For context, I’m 19. I used to read constantly in elementary school but as I got to middle school I stopped. There are a number a reasons as to why I stopped and why I started reading again. So, I’ll tell my story first. Please add your stories as well…I’m very curious as to other people’s experiences.
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**Why I Stopped Reading**
Before elementary school, I was fortunate enough to be read to at night and I also read a lot by myself. Considering I was a toddler, I read for fun. However, as I approached elementary school, my motivation for reading soon turned from fun to competition. My memory is kind of fuzzy, but I remember a thing called “AR”. Essentially, it was a point system that allowed kids to be rewarded at the end of the year with a party and more if they got enough points. To earn points, kids would be encouraged to read followed by a quiz on comprehension. If they passed the quiz, they would earn points. Longer and more difficult books would grant more points. There was also a leaderboard system to determine who would go to the party at the end of the year. This entire thing motivated me to read, but for the wrong reasons. I’m very competitive so my only desire was to beat the kids who were ahead of me. Especially since one of them also bullied me. As a result, I read for competition and not for fun.
Then around the age 7 or 8, I discovered Minecraft. I quickly became addicted as it was the only way I could make friends (as an isolated and bullied child) and it was one of the only ways I could escape my reality (with a rocky home and school life). Instead of books being my escapism, Minecraft was. Another reason as to why I stopped reading.
After that, I only read for school. Which, as you can imagine, depleted the last bit of enjoyment I got from reading. I completely stopped reading for pleasure until September 2023.
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**How I Rediscovered Reading**
Around September of 2023, I began the process of overcoming my video game addiction. Since I wasn’t spending so much time gaming, I had a lot more free time. I thought about reading a lot, but I always had a mental block preventing me from starting again: “Why should I read if there are other things that are more fun?”
I began to look into the benefits of reading as a way to motivate myself to start. It improves empathy, helps relax and decompress from stress, strengthen focus, boosts vocabulary, etc. Although, what ultimately encouraged me to read after being addicted to screens for so long was the realization that reading is more rewarding–partly because it doesn’t have instant gratification. Reading is difficult compared to scrolling, watching videos, and/or playing games. This did work, because for the first time in years, I finished a book for myself. Not for school nor competition. I finished a book because I wanted to.
This book was *The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.* This book made me rediscover reading. I kept reading the book until the end because I was so invested in the character’s stories. I empathized with the characters and I learned about the time period they were set in. It allowed me to rediscover why I had loved reading in the first place.
This was followed by Alice in Wonderland, Dracula, Annie on My Mind, and Fahrenheit 451. Now I know why so many love reading and why I do too.
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What are your thoughts and/or stories?
by tigcryt