Up In Steph’s Room: Finding and Losing Hobbies after coming to MSA

It’s no surprise that, after moving almost 4 hours away from home to live out my dreams of going to art school, I have changed significantly since the beginning of the school year. It’s kind of strange how much your mind can change in just a few months. And then you’re looking through your photos app and reliving all of those previous memories and wondering where did the time go? It’s like it all slips away from you until you realize you haven’t done the things you used to love in six months.

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved drawing. I would teach myself with YouTube videos and I would teach others in my middle school classes. I would draw when I was bored, I would draw when I was happy, sad, angry – I would draw just because I felt like it. I honestly wouldn’t say I was much good at it, because I didn’t do it to get better, I did it because I wanted to and it was fun. I filled up countless sketchbooks before I heard about MSA. Then I filled up a lot more until I realized I didn’t want to go to MSA to draw, I wanted to write.

I knew I wanted to be an author ever since I wrote my first successful short story in the sixth grade and thought, “I think I want to do this for the rest of my life.” Even before the sixth grade, I loved to write. It was never anything serious because most things I did under the age of 10 weren’t, but it was a great way to express myself. I would make up little stories and characters and, of course, I would always draw them too.

When the time to audition for MSA came around, I quickly realized that I wanted to be a part of the literary arts department which was a huge surprise to my friends and family. Of course, everyone knew that I loved to draw, but writing was a private hobby that I didn’t share often. So I auditioned for both literary arts and visual arts. I knew that, if I was accepted, I would choose literary over visual. But I believe I did it to prove myself something – that all those years of having my head shoved in a sketchbook didn’t go to waste.

It’s kind of disappointing, now. I haven’t picked up my sketchbook since I moved into MSA. Whenever I go home and a family member asks if I’ve drawn at all, I always have to tell them that I haven’t drawn in months. And I’m just as shocked as they are!

But of course, with loss comes discovery. Writing has definitely replaced drawing since coming to MSA. It’s funny how quickly I was able to adapt it as my new number-one hobby. It’s productive for class and productive for my mind. And it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.

I’ve also taken reading under my list of hobbies. Before coming to MSA, I never really read books (which is embarrassing to admit as a literary arts student). It’s great to finally blow some dust off of the books I’ve always wanted to read but didn’t until now.

I’ve also gotten involved in sewing! I hand stitched my Halloween costume which was a cute set of ladybug wings. I got a sewing machine for Christmas, and I’m still learning the basics but I’m glad to have started!

I’ve picked up playing the piano in some unique ways like joining a band within my friend group and being the organ player (that only plays pre-recorded songs) at church! I used to play when I was younger and I never thought I would do it again, but here I am. I’ve also started playing some of my old games on my Nintendo 3DS and bringing that back has definitely brought some memories along with it.

Even though I came to MSA content with the hobbies I had, change is the result of time and I’m fine with that. It’s sad to see all of my unfinished sketchbooks while I watch all of my visual art friends draw their day away. But maybe I’ll pick drawing back up, maybe I won’t. I’m fine with what I used to have and what I have now. I’m excited for my future hobbies, I hope crocheting makes its way into my life!