My short speech to 600 teens about reading

I had the opportunity to put a plug in for my reading club at the weekly meeting at the high school where I am blissfully employed as a librarian. I started with a plug for reading in general. Here's what I said:

When I was in college I spent my summers working as an aide in the offices of the Buffalo Courier Express -- at the time, a major morning paper in a city of over a million people. Even though I spent my time taking dictation from reporters, sorting mail and pouring coffee, it was all very exciting. It was my first job in a professional setting. I strived to make a good impression. And for the most part, I did. I worked hard and felt pretty good about how I was doing.

One night, the fatherly reporter who sat across the desk from me attempted to make friendly conversation. I think he was mostly trying to humor the new kid.

"So what are you reading?" asks he. I sighed and admitted I really wished I had time to read, but I didn't. He looked at me aghast. "No!" he said. "You have to make time to read." He mumbled the same thing a few times and that was pretty much the end of the conversation. So much for my professionalism. What I learned is that professsionals don't just talk the talk, they walk the walk.

He was right, of course, and ever since that night, I have made an effort to have something to read around. I don't always get to it, but I try. I discovered how easily reading floated back into my life -- a life I was convinced had no spare hours for reading for fun.

Read something, anything that's purely for your own enjoyment, every night before sleep. Even if it's just 5 minutes -- you'll be better for it. Even if you fall asleep before the end of the first paragraph for 2 or 3 nights running, by the end of the week you'll probably have hit lift off with an interesting article or a great book. And that will be a wonderful thing. You will have become a reader.