Hobbies catalyze character development
Sarah Cheung
Staff Writer
December 2017
Staff Writer
December 2017
You're filling out a college application, reflecting on your experiences, and thinking: did I make the right choices in high school? Did I join the right clubs, meet the right people, and discern my plans for the future? How do I even know what the right things to say are?
Hobbies help many high schoolers discover oneself. They are what make people intriguing and unique by shaping lifestyles, relationships, and visions of their lives ahead.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a hobby as an activity pursued out of desire and enjoyment, rather than something forced to do out of necessity.
Some people dedicate their lives to a single hobby from a very young age, and some prefer to experiment with many over time. While sticking with just one adds tremendous value to a person's character growth and goal setting, the latter can be just as beneficial in helping someone uncover their true passions.
There are mutual advantages for both types of people. According to Business Insider, a study by therapist Betsan Corkhill found that extracurricular activities relieve stress by giving the brain a chance to focus on only pleasurable activities or to go into a meditative state.
"It's become a natural reflex for me to dance. When I'm upset, I put on a song and choreograph to it and it makes me feel so much better," junior Holly Koda, a dancer, said.
Hobbies also increase opportunities for social interaction when one is surrounded by those who share common interests. This is where the experience for those with one interest and those with multiple interests differs.
People with one hobby engage with the same peers in that organization, developing deep bonds over the years. Partaking in team activities has its own advantages, a study at the London School of Economics found.
Dr. Chia-Huei Wu, an assistant professor who participated in the study, said, "This can be explained by the social interaction and feelings of identity that comes from being a team member, which are not as present when [someone] pursues their own individual goals."
However, spending all of one's time doing that hobby can take away from a life outside of it.
For instance, Koda has been dedicated to dance for 13 years. She sometimes stumbled in that dedication when she felt she was missing out on other activities.
Koda said, "When I was younger I used to get upset because I couldn't go to school dances due to having classes on Fridays. It's a huge commitment and there were so many days where I didn't want to go."
In contrast, those involved in multiple groups may find that they are exposed to a variety of types and more opportunities for potential friendships.
Joe Bazarsky, a junior, participates in a number of pastimes, such as Carlmont's theatrical productions, Jazz Ensemble, Mock Trial, and Debate Club.
"Having many aspects to one’s character tends to make an individual more interesting, and participating in everything I do allows me to interact with a very diverse group of people," Bazarsky said.
Lastly, having hobbies boosts people's confidence and helps them envision their goals.
Kyla Orthbandt is a sophomore who has stayed focused on soccer since she was six years old. She realized it was her passion when she made it onto a team that plays the highest competitive level in America at age 12.
"Playing soccer for so long has shaped me into being very determined and confident. I always tell myself to be positive so that it's a lot easier to achieve different goals in my daily life," Orthbandt said. "For right now, my main goal is to get a scholarship to a Division I school by the next coming year."
Bazarsky has discovered through his own experience that spreading his time amongst many crafts lacks that degree of goal-setting: "Leading a life with many hobbies makes it difficult to attain mastery over one hobby, seeing as I have to distribute my time and attention between multiple tasks."
There are drawbacks to a one-hobby lifestyle as well. Like Koda, starting a single hobby at a young and naive age can cause a person to bar themselves from other activities that they might love but have never tried.
Senior Amy Yolland participates in a range of different sports, including water polo, lacrosse, and softball, just to name a few. She has found that this allows her to decipher which ones she really likes and which ones she doesn't.
"A benefit of trying out many is that you figure out what you like to do best," Yolland said. "I'd say I'm most passionate about water polo because it's a sport like no other and it has such a great community."
Hobbies help many high schoolers discover oneself. They are what make people intriguing and unique by shaping lifestyles, relationships, and visions of their lives ahead.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a hobby as an activity pursued out of desire and enjoyment, rather than something forced to do out of necessity.
Some people dedicate their lives to a single hobby from a very young age, and some prefer to experiment with many over time. While sticking with just one adds tremendous value to a person's character growth and goal setting, the latter can be just as beneficial in helping someone uncover their true passions.
There are mutual advantages for both types of people. According to Business Insider, a study by therapist Betsan Corkhill found that extracurricular activities relieve stress by giving the brain a chance to focus on only pleasurable activities or to go into a meditative state.
"It's become a natural reflex for me to dance. When I'm upset, I put on a song and choreograph to it and it makes me feel so much better," junior Holly Koda, a dancer, said.
Hobbies also increase opportunities for social interaction when one is surrounded by those who share common interests. This is where the experience for those with one interest and those with multiple interests differs.
People with one hobby engage with the same peers in that organization, developing deep bonds over the years. Partaking in team activities has its own advantages, a study at the London School of Economics found.
Dr. Chia-Huei Wu, an assistant professor who participated in the study, said, "This can be explained by the social interaction and feelings of identity that comes from being a team member, which are not as present when [someone] pursues their own individual goals."
However, spending all of one's time doing that hobby can take away from a life outside of it.
For instance, Koda has been dedicated to dance for 13 years. She sometimes stumbled in that dedication when she felt she was missing out on other activities.
Koda said, "When I was younger I used to get upset because I couldn't go to school dances due to having classes on Fridays. It's a huge commitment and there were so many days where I didn't want to go."
In contrast, those involved in multiple groups may find that they are exposed to a variety of types and more opportunities for potential friendships.
Joe Bazarsky, a junior, participates in a number of pastimes, such as Carlmont's theatrical productions, Jazz Ensemble, Mock Trial, and Debate Club.
"Having many aspects to one’s character tends to make an individual more interesting, and participating in everything I do allows me to interact with a very diverse group of people," Bazarsky said.
Lastly, having hobbies boosts people's confidence and helps them envision their goals.
Kyla Orthbandt is a sophomore who has stayed focused on soccer since she was six years old. She realized it was her passion when she made it onto a team that plays the highest competitive level in America at age 12.
"Playing soccer for so long has shaped me into being very determined and confident. I always tell myself to be positive so that it's a lot easier to achieve different goals in my daily life," Orthbandt said. "For right now, my main goal is to get a scholarship to a Division I school by the next coming year."
Bazarsky has discovered through his own experience that spreading his time amongst many crafts lacks that degree of goal-setting: "Leading a life with many hobbies makes it difficult to attain mastery over one hobby, seeing as I have to distribute my time and attention between multiple tasks."
There are drawbacks to a one-hobby lifestyle as well. Like Koda, starting a single hobby at a young and naive age can cause a person to bar themselves from other activities that they might love but have never tried.
Senior Amy Yolland participates in a range of different sports, including water polo, lacrosse, and softball, just to name a few. She has found that this allows her to decipher which ones she really likes and which ones she doesn't.
"A benefit of trying out many is that you figure out what you like to do best," Yolland said. "I'd say I'm most passionate about water polo because it's a sport like no other and it has such a great community."