Can’t Find the Time to Read Books?

For me, reading is the greatest past time; there’s nothing better than diving into a satisfying, lengthy book with a riveting plot and intriguing characters. But as a student, consumed by coursework and studying, I can hardly find the time and incentive to read for pleasure anymore. Dull, informative textbooks now replace the engrossing fiction books I used to read for fun. So how do I satisfy my reading fix? Here are a few ways Cal Poly Pomona students can get their reading fix on campus:

Take an Interesting English Class
Unless you’re an English major, most majors only require students to take ENG 104 and/or ENG 105. But chances are that the required texts for these courses will not be captivating novels but rather anthologies, collections of compiled literary works. Take English courses where you’ll read interesting novels, courses such as The Literature of Science Fiction (ENG 222) or Introduction to Modern Fiction (ENG 201). The best thing about these courses is that they fulfill the General Education requirement C-3.

Join the College Reading Skills Program (CRSP)
CRSP is a free academic program located in The University Library that offers students services to improve their reading and study skills. Participants meet with peer mentors once a week for 50-minute sessions to improve such skills. What’s more is that the program also offers a 1-unit course, beneficial for students who wish to meet the 12-unit full-time student requirement. In addition to meeting 18 times a quarter for tutorial sessions, the 1-unit course requires participants to read a book from the CRSP library. Joining the program also offers participants the opportunity to apply for the CRSP Challenge Scholarship.

Join the Book Club
The Book Club is open to all students, staff, and faculty members who enjoy reading novels and meeting for thoughtful discussions. Members meet three to four times per quarter during U-hour to discuss the club’s novel at The University Library. It is a great way to meet fellow booklovers and connect with Cal Poly Pomona students and staff. New books are chosen each quarter and are selected by member suggestions and majority votes. This quarter, the club is reading The True Story of Hansel and Gretel: a Novel of War and Survival by Louise Murphy.

Major or Minor in English

If you feel especially passionate about books such as myself maybe you wish to study literature further in college. But maybe you are already majoring in something else you feel more passionately about, something completely different from English Literature . There is always the alternative of minoring in English. If you attend Cal Poly Pomona, in only takes an additional 32 units, two of the required classes fulfill two separate GE requirements. There is always an advantage to adding a minor to your degree, regardless of whether that minor directly relates to your major or not. The benefits of minoring in English are increased skills in both writing and communication. Who knows, you might even find yourself enjoying English more than your current major and find yourself wanting to switch majors.

As students, it’s difficult to find the time to do the things we enjoy, what with having to study for exams, maintain a social life, uphold good grades, and, for some, sustain a job. However, many campuses offer various programs, clubs, and events that cater to students’ interests, students simply have to look for them.