Time for New Hobbies by Breanna

Time for New Hobbies by Breanna - February 2022 Scholarship Essay

I would create a new class that’s designed to help students discover new hobbies and passions, which would help kids figure out what they want to do with their life and find new ways to relax.

While there are already special, interest-specific, electives kids can take, some students might not know which path is best for them or want to spend an entire year doing the same thing. With this elective, students would be exposed to different hobbies each week, which would always allow them to be doing something new and would expand the chances of them finding a hobby that they especially enjoy and would want to continue outside of the class. Finding a new hobby can help students develop a variety of skills and interests, which can help them further shape their career goals.

Additionally, while there are already electives that teach about mental health, this class would help with students’ mental health in a different way. When you’re struggling, one piece of advice you’ll hear frequently is “Try a new hobby!” However, it can be hard to find the resources or motivation needed to start a new hobby, and this class will help with that. By exposing kids to different hobbies and giving them the resources needed to succeed in them, it’ll make it easier for them to really “click” with at least one and continue to do it. This will help them find ways to spend their free time and improve their mental health by helping them relax and take their minds off things.

Overall, an elective class focused on helping kids find new hobbies and skills could benefit students with both their career path and their mental health.