Dear Sparty, all my friends seem to have so much going on. Whether it’s art classes or sports I feel like everybody has a way to express their interests. How do I find hobbies that express me?
– Confused
Dear Confused,
Many high school students feel like they’re not doing enough extracurricular activities, so you’re not alone. Finding the right hobbies to invest time in will help solve this problem. Focusing your interests on constructive activities can also help you let off steam while doing something gratifying.
Jaya Saxena, a free-lance writer for the “New York Times,” presents a similar belief. In her article, “The Case for Having a Hobby” she explains, “It’s just nice … to have this creative outlet that’s not [a] … job. It doesn’t have to be something that brings … money, just something that lets [you] unwind and have fun.” Pursuing a hobby may also give you something creative to add to a college application, sharing some of your actual interests.
But let’s be honest; you could have gotten this information from a quick Google search. What I’m here to help you with is how to find and develop hobbies that interest you.
- Grab a sheet of paper and write down things you are interested in (broad topics ordered from most to least interested). This is literally just a brain dump. What most limits me in these exercises is the need to feel like everything I write is perfect. Remember that everything you write can be thrown away; it doesn’t have to be pretty.
- Start to narrow each topic into focused sections that you like or would like to try*. For example, if your broad topic is art, narrow it down to activities like quilling and oil painting.
- See if you can combine topics. For instance, if you have an interest in art and in business, you could look into starting a small business where you create paintings to sell. Combining interests allows you to add specificity to your activities and add to the repertoire of things you know how to do.
On the other hand, don’t let this take the pleasure out of your hobby. Saxena remarks, “… many hobbies have morphed into the dreaded side hustle or as paths to career development, turning the things we ostensibly do for fun into … more work” (Saxena). While she is talking about how hobbies have changed meaning for adults, the idea still holds true for high schoolers, with every activity being geared towards being a better college applicant.
While these activities can show your dedication to enhancing your interests and therefore look good for colleges, that should not be the end goal as it may put too much pressure on you!
– Sparty
*If you need help with activities you want to try, https://hobbylark.com/misc/How-to-Choose-a-Hobby; this website has a free quiz to help you better understand which activities fit your personality!