A riddle with heart kicked off a thoughtful conversation this week, as community reporter and Palm Desert High School student Amaya D’Souza returned to talk literacy, libraries, and life as a modern student.
The answer to the riddle—“What can fill a room but takes up no space?”—is light, but the spotlight was on reading as D’Souza shared her insights on the importance of literacy. She focused on the newly reopened Palm Desert Library, which recently transitioned from Riverside County management to a private system. The change has brought new life to local literacy programs.
“The library has started offering a lot of new initiatives for kids, teens, and even adults,” Amaya explained. “With everything becoming digital, kids are being handed iPads instead of books. That’s why these kinds of programs matter.”
Beginning May 27, the library will open pre-registration for its summer reading program. It will feature not only traditional book reading but also interactive activities like gaming, anime events, superhero trivia, and virtual book clubs. Even toddlers are included—The Living Desert will send their character Miss Sprout to promote early reading in a fun, engaging way.
But in today’s digital world, how do teens strike a balance between books and technology? Amaya sees both the benefits and challenges of AI and tools like ChatGPT.
“When we lost our calculus teacher mid-year, I used AI to help teach myself the material. It can be helpful—if used responsibly,” she said. “But it really comes down to personal ethics. For younger students, seeing older teens or adults rely on it too heavily can normalize bad habits.”
Amaya’s thoughtful reflections offered a powerful reminder: while tools and trends may change, the importance of foundational skills like reading—and critical thinking—remains. And with young leaders like her, the future looks bright.
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By: Fred Roggin
May 23, 2025
