2024-2025 Writing Showcase: Personal Stories and Research

What if I told you that there is a way to improve your academic performance while also relieving depression? What if I told you that you could expand your creativity while honing the skills needed for success? Now, what if I told you that you can accomplish all these things by adding one simple activity to your daily routine? Well, you can! Reading for pleasure has a profoundly positive impact on student success as it enhances reading and writing skills, fosters creativity and empathy, alleviates anxiety and depression, and cultivates a strong reading habit. 

Spending time with your favorite author's latest novel can help develop your writing style, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. Professor Attiyat from Balqa Applied University in Jordan concludes that pleasure reading enhances literacy and reading comprehension and improves analytical skills and writing achievements. He adds that pleasure reading can help students with their goals and interests (2019, p. 161). From my experience as an avid reader, I find that reading and writing assignments are less daunting than other types of assignments. I write in a similar style to the author I am currently reading, and since I read a lot, I have many styles to draw on for inspiration. Since I read for pleasure daily, I encounter unfamiliar words to add to my vocabulary and subconsciously review grammar throughout each book. Improving reading and writing skills is crucial for college students, particularly as they progress in their careers and set goals for their future, according to Dr. Pauline Dewan, from Wilfrid Laurier University. Dewan (2015) cites many studies which have shown that increased reading leads to better writing skills, grammatical proficiency, and an enlarged vocabulary.  

While reading for pleasure can improve writing skills, it can also expand creativity and empathy. Creativity is a valuable skill that benefits us in numerous ways. It combats stagnation and increases innovation, motivation, and confidence. It helps us solve our problems and problems that affect the entire world. Enhancing creativity skills can help students succeed in coursework and prepare for future careers. Professor Wang, from the University of Education in Taiwan, authored a study showing that there are significant correlations between reading, writing, and creativity, specifically the ability to elaborate and enrich original ideas (2011, p. 45). Reading for pleasure also encourages the reader to internalize the story, put themselves in the shoes of another, and walk a few miles, thus expanding empathy. Dr. Dewan (2015) states, "By imagining these thoughts and experiencing these emotions, we enlarge our understanding of others and increase our capacity for empathy" (p. 30). When we feel more connected to society and its people, our empathy grows. We want to participate and share experiences with those around us. Dr. Dewan states that individuals who read for pleasure are more likely to volunteer, vote, participate in sports, enjoy the outdoors, visit museums, and attend cultural events (p. 30). 

My favorite genre is historical fiction because it allows me to live vicariously through the characters in the time periods which I enjoy the most. I have lived the life of a Mongol warrior, raiding the plains with Genghis Khan leading the charge. I have built cathedrals that will last the ages, even as the Black Death ravaged my village. I marched beside Athenian warriors as they tried to defend democracy against the oppressive Spartans. Only one quote sums up my feelings about reading, creativity, and empathy, and it comes from the famous author George R. R. Martin: "A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies [...]. The man who never reads lives only one" (2011, p. 495). 

Reading for pleasure not only impacts creativity and empathy, but it has been proven to reduce anxiety and depression in college students. Getting caught up in the fast-paced nature of college and university experiences is extremely easy. Our professors, family members, and even ourselves place grand expectations on us. Feeling overwhelmed by coursework and exams, expectations, and fear of the future can lead to students developing anxiety and depression. In a study done by Professor Liu from the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, researchers set out to prove that reading for pleasure can improve negative feelings of anxiety and depression in college students. Students were assigned eight chapters from books with positive messages to read weekly over an eight-week period. The students were divided into four groups, each using a different method of consuming the material: paper text, audiobooks, eBooks, and "video image reading." The results of this study suggest that paper text reading and audio reading modalities have a positive impact on the mental health and quality of life of college students (Lui, 2024, p. 4). I am a natural escapist, and reading serves as a positive outlet for this trait. When I feel overwhelmed by my life, reading is an opportunity to step outside of it for a time and wear the skin of another. While my problems might not be solved in a tidy five hundred pages, I can always count on seeing some conflict resolution in a story. 

Pleasure reading not only creates a space for peace and relaxation but also fosters strong reading habits and skills essential for academic success. Strong reading habits involve prioritizing reading, including setting aside time for reading, reaching reading goals, taking notes on your reading, and engaging in daily reading (Harvard University, 2023). Reading assignments can be extremely daunting due to the large number of pages we must read. Having strong reading habits can help reduce the overwhelming nature of these assignments. I manage my reading by setting aside time each day to read, take notes, and digest a specific number of pages, which I determine based on the assignment's due date. Some reading skills include reading stamina, critical thinking, and evaluation of text credibility (Attiyat, 2015; Gallik, 1999; Harvard University, 2023). Reading skills enable us to gain a deeper understanding of what we are reading. Reading stamina will enable students to sit and read for extended periods without distraction. This is vitally important to academic success in the college setting. All my courses require reading, from my statistics class to my medical terminology class. Chapters are assigned, and they are lengthy. Having the stamina to tackle these assignments is critical to my success as a student. Critically thinking about the assigned reading can enhance your understanding of the material. Evaluating the credibility of sources is crucial for advancing our knowledge in both academic assignments and our lives outside the classroom. If we cannot determine credible information, we will believe everything we read, which can lead to disaster. 

While reading for pleasure has been proven to improve student success and mental health, students face many obstacles and difficulties when attempting to read for fun. Heavy coursework loads, extracurricular activities, and work and family responsibilities limit students' time for recreation. Gilbert and Fister's study (2011) identify students' barriers to reading for pleasure as excessive reading for other classes, the desire to socialize, lack of access to desired books, and a lack of interest in reading. My barriers to reading are like those of other students. I have a lot of coursework and reading, work, and family responsibilities, and an increasing number of social demands on my time. Additionally, as Dr. Dewan notes, our mobile devices exacerbate the issue by constantly distracting us with calls, texts, task reminders, and updates (2015, p. 29). The rise of social media and smartphones has significantly impacted how we spend our free time. A statistical analysis conducted by Laricchia, a writer for the well-known website Statista, reveals that the average time spent on our phones, excluding calls, is 4 hours and 30 minutes daily (2023, p. 1). With all the competition for our attention, it is no wonder that students feel there is little time available for reading for pleasure. 

Is there one activity that can improve academic success and skills while also combating anxiety and depression? Yes! Reading for pleasure is an excellent way for college and university students to enhance their reading and writing skills, connect with others, cultivate creativity, and unwind from the pressures of academia. While there are many barriers to recreational reading, such as time, course load, work, and family responsibilities, creating space for this hobby can improve many aspects of student life. Pleasure reading has helped me in my classes, improved my attitude toward life, and made me more empathetic and creative. My latest reading adventure has whisked me away to the shores of Spain and Portugal to beat back the invasion of Napolean’s French army. Reading these heroic tales inspires me to achieve my best in my life and my academic studies. You too can find your own adventure and take a moment to enjoy reading and its many benefits. 

References  

Attiyat, N. (2019, March 1). The Impact of Pleasure Reading on Enhancing Writing Achievement and Reading Comprehension. Education Resource Information Center. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1287708.pdf  

Dewan, P. (2015, February 1). Reading Trends and College-Age Students: The Research, the Issues, and the Role of Libraries. Perdue University Libraries. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6993&context=atg

Gallik, J. D. (1999, March 1). Do they read for pleasure? Recreational reading habits of college students. ProQuest. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://www.proquest.com/docview/216933097/fulltextPDF?accountid=2909&parentSessionId=34L1AeMrqep3GqYHUU8pbRYQHAS%2FPUQI%2Bn1TwDxVEkk%3D&pq-origsite=summon&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals

Gilbert, J., & Fister, B. (2011, September 1). Reading, Risk, and Reality: College Students and Reading for Pleasure. College & Research Libraries. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://crl.acrl.org/index.php/crl/article/view/16182/17628  

Harvard University (2023, October 2). Reading. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://academicresourcecenter.harvard.edu/2023/10/02/reading/

Laricchia, F. (2023, December 6). Time spent with nonvoice activities on mobile phones every day in the United States from 2019 to 2024. Statista. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1045353/mobile-device-daily-usage-time-in-the-us/  

Liu, Y. (2024). A study of the effects of four reading styles on college students’ mental health and quality of life based on positive psychology-A first-of-its-kind study. PLOS ONE, 19(8), e0308475. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0308475Martin, G. R. (2011). A Dance with Dragons. Bantam Books.  

Wang, A. (2011, September 8). Exploring the relationship of creative thinking to reading and writing. Academia. Retrieved February 3, 2025, from https://www.academia.edu/15492930/Exploring_the_relationship_of_creative_thinking_to_reading_and_writing

What Is Professional? The Current State of Careers in Art for Post-Graduates 

Sweeping across college campuses is an age wave of Americans 50 and older. According to PBS News, this is known as a “silver tsunami” (as cited in Cerre, 2021). America’s baby boomers are reshaping our society. That shift is evident in higher education as a new surge of older students are going to college to pursue new opportunities. The majority of college degree seekers today are older (Quinn, 2018). The incentive for these students varies. Often it is inspired by professional reasons, and others are motivated by one’s own. I am living, breathing proof of this trend. I am a non-traditional, older college student. There’s one thing I know first-hand. It’s never too late to pursue your college dreams.   

After high school graduation, I had no desire to attend college. Sitting in a classroom, being buried in homework, was the farthest thing from my mind. Going to school at that time would have been a monumental waste of time and money. I attended school for thirteen years. I was over it. Getting married, having kids, raising a family, and owning a home were what I aspired to. After I had all that, I felt unfulfilled. I thought, “Now what? What’s next? Is this it?”  That is when I caught the “college bug”. I yearned for a college degree. I enrolled in a small community college part-time. I attended for 3 ½ years. Upon discovering I was pregnant with my oldest son, I felt that it became too much. Back then, online classes weren’t an option; you had to attend in-person. Unfortunately, I had to withdraw from classes. However, my desire for that college degree didn’t diminish with time.  

As the years passed, that flame grew stronger. My husband is from Guatemala. He was raised in a culture where the average person didn’t complete high school. As soon as you are of age, you quit school to work and help support the family. College was only for the wealthy. When I told my husband I was starting classes at UC, he asked me why. He didn’t understand. He said I already had a really good job; why did I need to go to college? I told him, “Just because I can.” It was something I wanted to do for myself. I dream of the day I walk across the stage and that bachelor’s degree is placed in my hands. I want to reach that long held goal I’ve had for so many years.   

There are the naysayers out there when it comes to older adults returning to college. “You’re too old.” “It’s a waste of time.” “You have a good job and all the perks that come with it.” “You’ll be paying off student loans for the rest of your life.” I vehemently disagree with all these viewpoints.   

“You’re too old.” Whether it comes from the trials and tribulations of life, or through academics, learning is a lifelong process. From the time you are an infant, you learn from your experiences. Babies, young children, adolescents, adults, or seniors, all continually learn. The phrase “You learn something new every day” rings true. Attending college as an older adult has its advantages. According to PBS News, “older students bring richness and experience to the student body” (as cited in Cerre, 2021). Older adults have already lived a full life. Younger college students have not. Oftentimes, younger students are more preoccupied with the social aspects of school. Meeting new people and making friends is a priority. There are fraternity and sorority parties to attend. For younger students, college might be the first time they have been out of their hometown. There is a big, wide world out there. They are discovering “boys” and “girls.” A lot of the time they do only as much studying as necessary to get by. Older adults approach learning differently. They are like sponges (Cerre, 2021). They welcome, and soak up, every tidbit of information. This is exactly why I didn’t enroll in college right out of high school. I didn’t have any interest in attending school. I had other fish to fry. 

“Is’ a waste of time.” So, you already have a good job. Why stop there? You may be doing very well in the position you currently hold. But you missed that promotion to the younger employee who had the college degree that you didn’t. Your experience is far superior, but they had the bachelor’s. Bárány et al. (2024) echo this sentiment: “Later-in-life education does increase earnings, especially for disadvantaged populations for whom it can be more difficult to complete college earlier in life.” Enrolling in college courses to get that degree to supplement your experience will give you the edge when the next promotion rolls around. That diploma opens the door to so many opportunities. 

“You’ll be paying off student loans the rest of your life.” Those cases where students that have some credits, but no degree, also means “some college debt, but no degree” (Mangan, 2022). 60% of US adults, ages 23 to 55, without a bachelor’s degree, have considered returning to school, but costs and student debt were deterrents (Quinn, 2018). There are numerous ways to finance a college education. Some employers offer tuition reimbursement for college courses. They will pay all, or part of, your tuition if you sign a contract to work for them for a specified period. Numerous untapped scholarships and grants exist out there. When I attended school for the first time, I made an appointment with an academic advisor at the Indiana University South Bend campus. I let them know that I didn’t have two nickels to rub together, but I was determined to go to college. I had no clue how to go about finding financing for college courses. IUSB found me multiple grants and scholarships. Those grants and scholarships paid my tuition, for books and supplies, gas money, and for childcare for my children.  

What was once unusual is now, more than ever, the norm. Many people have made choices in life that didn’t allow college at the traditional age. Sometimes life gets in the way. It is imperative that they have another opportunity for a second chance at that degree that eluded them when they were younger. Whatever their reasons, whether it be to inspire a child or grandchild, or something else, they should be allowed to pursue them. A strong desire and determination make all the difference. Personally, the biggest motivation for me is simply to be able to say, “I did it!” Where there is a will, there is a way. 

References 

Bárány, Z. L., Corbet, P., & Buchinsky, M. (2024, February 26). Older-adult college enrollment trends and benefits. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/older-adult-college-enrollment-trends-and-benefits/  

Cerre, M. (2021, May 22). Older adults are heading to college in pursuit of new opportunities. PBS NEWS. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/older-adults-are-heading-to-college-in-pursuit-of-new-opportunities 

Mangan, K. (2022, August 16). Finishing what they started adults with some credits but no degree hold the keys to enrollment and equity.  The Chronicle of Higher Education.  https://www.chronicle.com/article/finishing-what-they-started       

Quinn, L. (2022, April 14). Going back to college after 50: The new normal?  Forbes.  https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2018/07/01/going-back-to-college-after-50-the-new-normal/ 

The Harvester