When classes end and homework is set aside, many seniors find themselves turning to hobbies that reflect who they are and what they care about most. For some, these interests began in childhood. For others, they started almost by accident. What they all share is passion.
Senior Lizzie Petersen’s hobby began quietly before growing into something much larger. “I have always really liked birds, and didn’t really acknowledge it for the longest time,” she said. That changed in late May of her eighth-grade year, when she became “obsessed with the Eurasian Tree Sparrow.” Her interest continued to grow, and during her sophomore year, a biology project on the ring-necked pheasant led her somewhere unexpected. “As I was researching it, I stumbled across the All About Birds website,” Petersen said. While there, she noticed an advertisement for Merlin Bird ID. “So of course, instead of doing my work, I clicked on the link.” After realizing the app was created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, she downloaded it and quickly became immersed in birding. “I would bird whenever I got the chance — at home, walking around the school, having conversations with people, band camp, so on and so forth,” she said. She also began photographing the birds she spotted, adding with a laugh that her phone is now “lacking storage space.” Petersen plans to carry this passion into her future by studying ornithology at the University of Wyoming. Featured above are some of her favorite photos so far.
For senior Anahi Barnes-Boch, hobbies are both creative and emotional. One of her more unusual collections began as a way of holding onto memories. “When I started to think about my cats getting older and stuff, I got sentimental,” she said. “So whenever I found one [a whisker] just lying on the ground or something, I thought to keep it for whenever I don’t have them anymore.” Although she no longer lives with her cats, she said, “I have their whiskers and it just reminds me of them.” Anahi also spends time crocheting, a skill her mom introduced her to at a young age. “My mom started to teach me when I was nine just because she liked it,” she said. While she did not immediately stick with it, she picked crochet back up during her freshman year when she had more free time. “It kept me busy and I still had a lot to learn, so I tried a whole bunch of things,” she explained. Her favorite part is the creativity. “I like being able to create cute things that I like, whether it’s clothes or stuffed animals,” she said. “I mostly use patterns, but it keeps me busy while still productive.”
Senior Mysha Sorenson combines her love of art with meticulous detail through nail art. “I got into the hobby from a gel polish kit that my sister gifted me for Christmas two to three years ago,” she said, explaining that it paired perfectly with her enjoyment of painting. What she enjoys most is the visual impact. “My favorite thing about it is the shinies and sparklies,” Sorenson said, “and seeing how much art I can cram into a tiny space.” Nail art allows her to experiment with color, texture, and design in a way that feels both challenging and rewarding.
Senior Hailee Myers found her hobby through curiosity and a bit of boredom. “A friend got me into Blender because we were bored during class and she just randomly found it on the web,” Myers said. Her interest became more serious after working with someone who uses the software professionally. “He convinced me to ask our IT guys to download it for us as an actual app,” she explained. After finishing the well-known beginner donut tutorial “after like three tries,” Myers began experimenting on her own. She enjoys the endless possibilities Blender offers. “There’s so much to learn about it and you’ll never get bored,” she said. “I can make whatever the heck I want.” With the help of online tutorials, she continues to build new skills and hopes to take the hobby even further. “I’m hoping to learn how to 3D print some of my models too,” Myers said, “so that’s going to be a fun adventure.”
Aurora Colvin traces her love of horses back to early childhood. “I was reading a horse book with my mom when I was super little,” she said. “Afterwards I told her I wanted to be like the girl in the book and ride horses.” That childhood dream stayed with her. Today, Colvin spends her time riding and caring for horses, valuing the relationship as much as the activity itself. “My favorite thing about riding horses is the connection you create with your horse,” she said, adding that it is also “how fun it is” that keeps her coming back.
Together, these seniors show that hobbies are more than just ways to pass the time — they are personal, meaningful, and often a glimpse into where the future might lead.
