Many Chapman students have to read for class, but despite the distractions of everyday life, some still read for pleasure.

And some read a lot. 

Freshman Sarah Gaskins, who has read about 60 books this past year, said reading has impacted her life in many ways.

“Reading has helped me gain more knowledge,” Gaskins said.

She has been reading large amounts ever since she learned.

“My kindergarten teacher was actually the one who taught me to read,” she said, “That’s just what inspired me to keep reading.” 

Gaskins isn’t the only big reader at this school.

Freshman Delores Lewis has read about 55 books in the past year.

“I actually used to not like reading, ” Lewis said. “I think in second grade, I picked it up and haven’t stopped since.”

To her, reading is like escaping from reality and she gets to experience things she doesn’t normally get to do.

Not only do students love to read, but some faculty members do as well.

Yearbook adviser Alex Hollis read 162 books in 2024. He reads a mix of fiction and nonfiction, and it was a nonfiction book about artificial intelligence that he enjoyed most last year. 

“The book has a very positive tone, and the author addresses AI as improving things with smart machines that humans are incapable of improving,” Hollis said “ It’s really enlightening to think about some of these things.”

Hollis said that it’s important to read because it has profound effects on other parts of life.

“I fully believe the better you are at reading, the better you are at writing,” Hollis said. “And if you have an interest of any kind, there’s something for you to read out there.”