Reading books for pleasure is strongly linked to success in Job Corps, and in the workplace.  Skilled readers generally go on to higher-paying jobs and have more opportunities to advance in their careers.  However; To Read or no to Read, a 2014 report from the National Endowment for the Arts states the following:

~Nearly half of all Americans aged sixteen to twenty four read no books for pleasure

~Only about one-third of high school seniors read proficiently

~Companies, and employers actively seek high reading skills in their prospective employees.

If you would like to begin or increase your leisure reading as a Job Corps student, I want to offer the following suggestions:

Read for Pleasure: Look for fun things to read – books that are not required for your classes or trade and reflect your personal interests.  Ask your instructors and friends for ideas and recommendations.

Make Time to Read: Keep track of how much time you spend online or in front of the TV.  Consider trading some time for pleasure reading.  Let books read to you.  Comb your local library and the center library for audio books and digital down loads to enhance your learning experience.

Reflect on the content: When you read for pleasure, forget about speed reading.  Take in the words at your own pace.  Look up from the page now and again to think about you have just read, or write a journal entry.  In a discovery statement, list out the main points or events that you want to remember.  Also note what surprised you or led to a flash of insight.  This is a very useful work tool when problem solving or developing team work as an employee and for future career advancements.  Reading for pleasure will enhance student employability and open the mind to endless possibilities of work place challenges and opportunities.  The formula from being a “value added student to a value added employee” is a real job market expectation where success breeds success!  Are you ready for the challenge after you graduate from Delaware Valley Job Corps?