Don’t assume this is a bad time to explore new interests. Now is the perfect time to figure out what you enjoy and what your talents are. Try things you’ve always been curious about and don’t be afraid to try things outside of your comfort zone.
Dear Sister,
Now is the time to explore new interests. There will never be a perfect time to try things. So don’t wait around to sign-up for that class or join that club, or it may never happen.
I don’t know about you, but I never look back on my best memories and see myself staring at my phone or watching tv for hours on end. My best memories are of travel, learning a new skill, and hanging out with good people.
I wish I had been more adventurous in school. Whether you’re in high school or college, there are so many different options to explore new interests. When I was in college, I remember perusing the course catalog and finding so many interesting things. Digging around, I found that instead of taking art history, I could take an actual art class to satisfy my fine arts credit. I got to spend one of my summers drawing for college credit. My Professor encouraged me to enter the school’s art show, and I won first place in my category for what I consider a very creepy looking self-portrait. True story.
If you’re curious about something, but you can’t take a class because of your schedule, or because of what’s offered, check into clubs. I didn’t live on campus, so I brushed off clubs as if I didn’t need anything like that. But now I wish I had! I could have gotten more involved in my undergrad years and connected with friends with common interests. So don’t be afraid to try new things. You can even visit several clubs or groups until you find the right fit.
Why is it so important to explore new interests while you’re in school? Because once you finish school and start your career, you won’t find as many opportunities. I think it’s sad when people live their lives thinking school was the highlight of their life. No! Try new things while you’re in school, discover your interests, and keep up with them. And if you can’t or lose your passion, find a new passion!
After I got my bachelors, I found myself suddenly with spare time. Time I didn’t need to devote to studying. What?! I looked around and discovered there was a community arts center that offered classes. I took a class on digital photography and am so glad I did. It was such an amazing experience to learn how to shoot RAW photos and use all the manual settings — what a fun experience. So if you’re out of school, or you don’t find something at your school, look around and see what your community offers.
Still can’t find something to pursue? I taught myself to knit this year from watching YouTube videos. Yep. There are so many videos online teaching you to do stuff. Check them out and see if you can find a hobby there.
If you can’t find anything to connect with, start something! Start a book club, running group, or host a regular board game night. Ultimately, don’t be afraid to find interests outside of what you do to make money. So often, as students, we become fixated on our future careers, we forget to search for what brings us joy in our spare time.
Your big sister,
Mallary
XOXO