Try a new hobby and create lasting memories

#TeenEssay

Don’t knock it ’till you try it

Most everyone has a hobby of some sort. Whether it’s sports, arts and crafts, games, or something less common, there has been a time when you’ve had one. During the quarantine of 2020, finding things to do became a challenge for many people. Most of us turned to the internet as a hobby, myself included, but being on a screen for long periods of time isn’t the healthiest thing to do. So, finding other activities (without a screen) can help pass the time and even inspire you to create lasting memories.

Searching for what interests you. The first thing that gets many people into hobbies is finding someone who inspires you. You could get inspired by painters, athletes, writers and so many other people. Your choices might be influenced by your parents or friends. For me, it was watching drawings come to life with animation. That inspired me to make my own creations.

Don’t knock it ’till you try it. Once you find a thing that interests you, try it out! You never know if you will like a hobby unless you do it yourself at least once. It might be fun, difficult, or maybe not your type. In that case, it’s okay to try something else. The thing you settle on doesn’t have to fit you immediately either. But if you stick it out, you might learn to like it. Plus, even if you don’t, it might help with finding similar hobbies that you’d enjoy more.

Practice, practice, practice. If the hobby you picked is difficult, don’t give up so fast! Instead, it might just take some practice. Things don’t always go right the first time. When I got into cross-stitching during covid, I made a lot of mistakes and thought about giving up. But after I found my style and worked on a variety of projects, I became good enough to make my own designs.

Now that you’ve read this, how about trying out a new hobby or two! Even though there is no quarantine currently, hobbies give you something fun to do when whether or not you are bored. If you want some suggestions, here are a few that I found super interesting: cross-stitching (of course), animating and drawing, cooking, playing Dungeons & Dragons and writing for your local newspaper!

Good luck in searching for your new hobby!

Mizuki Wong is a 9th grader at Mountainside High School. In their free time, they enjoy drawing, animating on YouTube, listening to music and learning about science.