It’s finally 2020 which means the start of a new decade. Everyone celebrated winter break with friends and family during the holidays and are now starting this new decade off with resolutions and goals for the new year.

One of my goals for this year is to read more books. I have a little bookshelf in my room full of books that haven’t been picked up in ages. This got me thinking about how lots of teens nowadays don’t read as much as well and that it’s probably rare to see a teenager reading a good old fashioned book.

Over break, I finally finished a book, The Unexpected Everything, that I haven’t read in so long. I started it around the beginning of the school year and didn’t have time to finish until December between cheerleading, homework, finals, and not to mention being really sick during the month of December. Finishing this book made me feel so accomplished that it made me want to read more in the new year.

Reading books can help strengthen your vocabulary and social skills. Along with this, I love that books can take me on adventures that don’t happen in reality or they can relate to something I happen to be going through.

As teens, we have a tendency to get caught up in other things and don’t give a second thought about reading books, something I’m guilty of. As well, Sometimes watching “The Office” on Netflix for the tenth time or scrolling through TikToks endlessly sound way more interesting than reading. That doesn’t mean that you should ignore reading forever though. Taking a break from your phone is desperately needed and reading can help take your mind off things for a little while.

So a little message to my fellow teens: please read more. Find a book that’s interesting to you and dive in. I reccomend the To All The Boys I’ve Loved book series. You may find a book series or author you really enjoy.