by K. L., Cupertino
Imagine doing homework all day. That would be terribly boring. Everyone has hobbies, such as collecting quarters, playing Valorant past midnight, or trying out different makeup looks. While most of those activities sound fun, I like to spend my free time outside with my chickens, making little clay figures, and running with my friends.
After being locked up in a small room, hunched over my desk, hands hot with sweat, typing away on my computer, I like to go outside and get some fresh air. Along with fresh air, I also get greeted by my pet chickens. Just like most parents, I “don’t have a favorite” chicken, but I most definitely do. Her name is Lele, and she is a speckled easter egger chicken. Unlike most of her flockmates, Lele always greets me at the door when I come back from school. She is also a lap chicken, which means if I pick her up and put her on my lap, she obediently sits there until I take her off. However, I love all my chickens very much, and make sure to cuddle each of them at least once per day. Chickens are very much like humans, so they all have different personalities. Some like to fly more than others, some like to cuddle way more than others, and some would do just about anything to avoid human contact. Sometimes when I stroll by one of them, they would attentively follow me, as if asking for hugs. Of course, I enjoy picking up their plump bodies and fluffing up their soft, velvety feathers, but alas, they are always more interested in edible delights.
Additionally, I like to go running with my friends. Since we live pretty close to each other, showing up unexpectedly at one another’s houses is pretty common. We also live within a ten-minute walk from our middle school, which doesn’t have a fun playground, but it compensates with a running track and tennis court. For the sake of our PE grades, we sometimes practice running miles on the track together, and when we don’t feel like it, we play hide-and-seek tag on the tennis court, even if there is nowhere to hide. Running around in the dark is strangely exciting, especially with a side of an adrenaline rush. One day, while we were playing hide-and-seek tag, some of us climbed on a fence to prevent being tagged. Our hands were calloused and bruised, and our feet were stinging from jumping off from so high, but the fun we had would be something that we would remember for a very long time.
Lastly, I like to make little clay trinkets, as it is one of the only things I like to do when I am confined to my room. My sister has a tub of Crayola clay, which she doesn’t use anymore, so she handed it down to me. Whenever a holiday or birthday is coming up, I whip out the clay to fabricate something cool-looking and gift it to my friends and family. I was never enrolled in a pottery class or anything of the sort, but after lots of struggle and a pinch of luck, a spectacle appears. Or, maybe not. One time, I tried to make a heart, and perhaps it was because I was only a beginner but it looked like a dented potato. On the other hand, I recently made a tiny clay man who is only an inch and a half tall. It was difficult to carve out the little details and paint on the decorations, but I would say, the final result was worth it. In general, the process usually consists of me struggling to make a sphere, getting it dented for just about the millionth time, me jumping mad, and ends with my sweaty hands rubbing against the hardening clay crust. The painting part is thankfully less gruesome, but again, it’s all fun and games until I mix the colors and everything turns into the ugliest color imaginable. I take the paintbrush in one hand, hold the figure in the other, and carefully coat every patch of clay. My eyes are strained, arms are quaking, but the end result is worth it. My main goal is for the recipient of the project to see the work and effort I put into it, which they usually do, and that makes me very happy.
All in all, my hobbies include playing with my pets, running with my friends, and making clay figurines. Whether it’s running around and trying to catch a domesticated bird, running around trying to catch a person, or running around and organizing all of my supplies, these hobbies define who I am as a person. I do expect to develop them further in the future, and also gain new hobbies, but for now, these are enough.