I became a reader after consuming The Lightning Thief, the first book in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series.
It was a book that shaped my childhood because it featured the excitement of a kid my age who went out on an adventure to get out of trouble and wound up saving the world. My love of reading took off after reading the entire Percy Jackson series, and I dove into other popular books like The Hunger Games, Divergent, and more dystopian novels that many folks my age have read and enjoyed.
But even though I loved reading, I rarely connected with the assigned reading in high school, so I never considered majoring in English until I came to Endicott and took “Injustice and Justice in American Literature,” taught by the amazing Professor Charlotte Gordon.
In that class, we explored incredible authors like Toni Morrison and impactful stories that made me question my major. After much reflection, I realized that my love for reading had always been driven by a deep appreciation for the power of writers to inspire change and make an impact with their words. So, I leaped and switched majors.
During my sophomore year, I became addicted to working my way through the classics and also noticed a fellow love of books among my friend group. Only we rarely read the same books. I wished for a group on campus that offered a place where students could read the same book and talk about it. Since leading has always been intimidating to me, one of my classmates volunteered to take the lead and start Endicott’s first Book Club.
To start a club on campus, we needed to establish an advisory board and prove that we had enough interest in the Book Club. Once our board was in place, we presented our vision at a Student Affairs meeting, outlining our mission, goals, and plans for the club. Though we were initially nervous, the meeting became a collaborative discussion, with Student Affairs offering valuable suggestions for events and initiatives to help bring our idea to life.
We received approval in the spring of 2022 and managed just a few initial meetings before the academic year ended. The 2023-24 academic year marked our first official year, where we gathered as a group to discuss our current reads. We hosted events like Bring Your Own Book (BYOB) and mocktails, where students could bring along any book they were reading—whether for personal enjoyment or homework—and enjoy a creative, alcohol-free drink.
We also organized a book-to-movie night, selecting a book each month with a film adaptation, like Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Our monthly book pick is entirely optional, as we acknowledge that balancing school and reading for fun can be challenging.
Starting the Book Club was also a big part of rekindling my love for reading—it became a place where students like me could share and recommend books and meet weekly to discuss our favorite books and fictional characters we’ve come to adore.
In one of our Wednesday meetings, we were asked to pick a few favorite characters from any book we’ve ever read—a simple question to most, but for readers with endless lists, choosing only a few was nearly impossible!
Starting the Book Club was a rewarding experience that allowed me to connect with new people, share my passion, and build a stronger community within my major, making campus feel even more like home.
Interested in joining a club? The semester is still young, and it’s never too late to get involved! Peruse Endicott’s clubs, and if you don’t see what you’re looking for, consider starting your own like our author.
Isabela Schmidt ’25 is a student columnist this year. Read her first article.