There comes a time in nearly every high school senior’s life when they ask themselves, “Do I continue my passions after high school?” Here at EHHS, some people are still unsure.
A person’s passions and hobbies make up a big part of who that person is and who they become. EHHS Alumna Alexis Pendziwater represents this when she said, “Sports helped me show who I really was- I was a good leader and also a good friend.” EHHS Alumna McKenzie Staggers also displays this when she recalls her time in high school. She said, “I’m able to manage my time better. Being in a [musical] was such a big commitment, and now I know how to use my time as best as I can.” McKenzie’s time in musicals helped shape her personality as she now knows how to be more productive. Continuing hobbies can bring students joy, but sometimes the lack of that hobby in someone’s life can cause feelings of sorrow.
EHHS Alumna Emily Cancel said, “Looking back now, I realize that I miss theater. Sometimes, I even reconsider my major because of how much I miss it.” Emily was unable to continue being in theater during the school year, and because it was so meaningful to her, she now misses theater.
When people are able to continue their hobbies, however, the results are often positive. McKenzie said, “I know it sounds very cliche, but I found my people. High school had its ups and downs, but being able to just go to rehearsal and talk to my friends every day was very comforting for me. It was almost a bit of an escape for when I was stressed.” McKenzie describes her hobby as ‘an escape’, and she greatly enjoyed performing in high school. But with all this high praise for hobbies, can people still do them after high school?
“There are always ways to continue what you do. Of course, there are going to be times when you might have to prioritize your major- like, I’m a nursing major and during clinicals I won’t be able to be in [musicals], but there are still ways around it. I do community theater and I can take theater classes,” says McKenzie. No matter what you choose to major in, there is always a time for you to continue what you love, but it is important to know that it might not be at the same degree as you did in high school. Alexis said, “Sadly, I do not play sports at the school level anymore. I am still able to play co-ed softball though, and that usually doesn’t get in the way of my classes.” So, continuing your hobbies after high school is an option, but you will have to be decisive with how you manage your time.
Similar to those in post-secondary education, seniors at EHHS hope to continue their hobbies. In a random poll of EHHS Seniors, 89.5% of the respondents claimed that they wanted to attend some form of post-secondary education, and 78.9% of respondents were sure that they wanted to continue their hobbies. Despite the overwhelming majority of students wishing to continue their hobbies after high school, 21.1% of students are considering if they want to continue them.
For anyone still on the fence, these experienced high school alumna leave the following:
“You have so many chances in life, and you have so much time to do things like change your major, for example. Regardless of if you go to college or not, you have so many chances to turn your life around. You really shouldn’t give up your hobbies and passions forever.”, Emily says.
McKenzie says, “You shouldn’t have to give up something you love because the career you want goes the other way. So many people I know lead busy lives and even then they always find ways to do what they love.”
Alexis says, “Some athletes are taught that if a school isn’t interested in taking you in as an athlete, you should focus on your education, but even so, you can choose to keep playing. Sports can be such a motivator to better yourself as a person and nobody should have to give up on that.”
It is possible to continue your hobbies after high school. Hobbies are such an influential part of a person’s life, and putting them aside as you enter college might cause feelings of remorse. To anyone contemplating how they might manage their hobbies in high school, take away this: No matter how demanding your major might be, there is always a way to continue doing what you love.
