Pent-up personal

On March 13, 2020, students’ lives turned upside down. Walking through the halls was no longer the reality. Being home everyday since March has allowed students to find new activities that interest them because they have had a moment to focus on themselves. Since quarantine started, students have been looking for activities to keep them busy. Picking up on new hobbies is an amazing way to stay busy during these times while also improving them self. Kettering University says, “Some people enjoy hobbies that give them the opportunity to improve their confidence level, boost their self-esteem, and improve their quality of life.” Art is a productive hobby that a lot of people like to pick up on. It allows you to express yourself in a meaningful and beautiful way. Painting or drawing things that you enjoy will keep your mind engaged and can boost confidence. As a beginner you can start painting the things that make you the happiest; it can be your friends, family or even house pets. Art can be your own style, there is no limit or expectation. Everything is personalized to your likings. If painting or drawing is not for you, you could try bullet journaling or even scrap booking. Put together a book of your favorite memories with friends, family and even school events like football games. It lets you embrace your creativity. Scrap booking will let you look at all the happy moments you have had before quarantine and the ones you have made during. It will also motivate you to make new memories when quarantine is over. Bullet journaling lets you be creative, mentally and physically. It can help you stay organized, can increase your confidence and can give you new ideas. You can use it to track just about anything, your sleep schedule, when you have work due and even upcoming holidays. English teacher Meghan Johnson said, “I love that bullet journaling helps me to be more mindful. When I’m designing my weekly spreads, I’m taking note of what day it is, what season; I’m deciding on an intention for the week or choosing a quote or verse to focus on for the week. It helps me to slow down and reflect for a minute on what I’ve done and what I want to do. I love flipping through it and reminding myself of what I did during quarantine for example. It’s easy to forget when the time seems to blur together and this way I have a record.” Journaling can bring such joy if you have an interest in decorating and making things your own.

Making music is another art form that may interest you. Being a crafty person might be hard for some so, if making music comes easier to you than you can give it a try. Music is used in everything, games, shows, and even movies. Music is another way to express yourself. Every song has a meaning behind it and you get to decide what the meaning is. Whatever message you want to express or portray, music can be used. Senior Michael Adeoyo said, “A lot of people utilize the art of writing to express themselves, but with music, you have more words -- a voice. You can escape into a dream of perfection and peace with a few chords! Music has taken up the majority of my life since childhood, and I decided to commit to making it a lifestyle and a career as I grew. The ability to inspire others is the biggest blessing I’ve achieved, and I hope I can continue to do so for the rest of my music journey.” Michael and a friend, Riley Limbert, just recently came out with a new song called “You Should Stay” which is available on all major music platforms. Song writing is not for everyone, but if you are interested in making music, an instrument is a great hobby that you may want to pick up on. Instruments are something that you can learn on your own specifically, in your free time. You can order playing books that will teach proper placement of your fingers and the proper way to hold the instrument. It is a hobby that will take a while to learn due to the fact that there is a lot of practice involved but, it is totally worth it. Junior Aiden Keogh said, “It has helped me develop as a person because now I have learned to read music and it has helped me meet new people who have helped build my personality.” Music is such a fantastic way to develop as a person. Music can teach so many life lessons, such as time management, problem solving and perseverance. According to Kettering University, creative hobbies can train your brain to be more creative in other areas of your life. If you have enough hobbies you can learn new skills instead. Elizabeth Scott, MS, of “verywellmind” blog says, “Developing a new skill can take time, and focusing the bulk of your energy toward immersing yourself in the pursuit of a goal is a great way to reach it. This is ideal when you want to really go deep in your knowledge and ability.”