During UMass’s ridiculously long winter break, I read 15 books. There are two reasons why. One is that I was ridiculously bored, and the other is that I truly love reading. When I was younger, I hated reading. I only read because my elementary school had 15 minutes of mandatory reading every day. With that said, I have since fallen in love with it. This love stems from Episode and Wattpad. I used to read Episode stories religiously from ages 8–12. Then, from ages 13–15, I pivoted to Wattpad. These platforms and stories have become one of the best things to ever happen to me.
I truly flourished when I started reading for fun. Oftentimes in school, we are overloaded with dense textbooks and articles. The material assigned in class always feels bland and lacking in substance. Episode and Wattpad made reading entertaining. I was always ready to see what was on the next page. I’ve spent countless nights up late reading on both platforms. Reading for school comes with constant dread and your mind trying to hold onto what may be important. When you read for enjoyment, you’re excited for what comes next.
One of the delights of Episode and Wattpad is the authors themselves. Many authors on the sites will put a disclaimer about grammar issues or that English is their second language. The stories weren’t perfect, but the passion and content were always there. In an episode, some authors created interactive stories where readers get to make choices that influence the story. For example, you could choose to wear the cutest red dress on a fancy date with your crush or go in a paper bag. Unfortunately, you could only make these choices if you had diamonds, something I rarely had. Nonetheless, Episode and Wattpad created a space to be creative and escape reality.
Communities have sprouted from Wattpad and Episode. Wattpad comment sections were the best thing ever invented. In every paragraph, you are able to click into the comments and see other people’s thoughts as they read. We’d often go back and forth in the comments with each other and the author. I’ve also found community among many girls I’ve met. I always dip my toe in and ask, “Have you heard of Wattpad?” or “Have you heard of Episode?” Whenever they said yes, it would unlock a whole new world. We’d discuss the craziest mafia stories on Wattpad or Demi Lovato: Path to Fame on Episode.
As a young girl, these websites taught me a great deal about life. In Episode, I learned that actions have consequences. Every time I ran out of diamonds, I regretted it. I had no control over the ‘choose your own path’ stories; tripping in front of my crush, missing my friend’s birthday dinner, or being late for work were all possibilities. All of these are trivial, but they always show the repercussions of anything we do. In both Episode and Wattpad, I learned quickly about red flags. Reading about toxicity, jealousy, manipulation, and controlling behavior helped me to see through a lot of stuff in life. That boy who cheated on every other girl will cheat on you. That girl who snaked her best friend will be fake to you too. I’ve also learned never to judge a book by its cover; stories can come with major twists that can sweep you off the ground. My favorite books were never predictable.
In recent years, Episode and Wattpad have become shells of their former selves; they are no longer user-driven platforms. Because of this, I truly believe this shift reflects our current literacy crisis. People no longer read just for fun. Everything is connected to school or work; this creates fatigue and a lack of originality. People no longer feel the need to train that muscle in their brain; reading and writing have become chores when they are really opportunities.
Wattpad and Episode have opened up my love for reading; in doing so, they have also allowed me to become a stronger writer. It also pushed me to apply to Her Campus in the first place. I’ve grown to love reading and writing, and I am constantly looking for new outlets to express that love.
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