Having a true desire for something is more than wanting to do it all day. It's wanting to advance and commit to it. Sometimes even our most beloved hobbies make us take a moment for ourselves, wipe away a tear or 2, and continue. In kindergarten, there was no doubt that I wanted to be a gymnast, but I quickly realized I had little to no athletic abilities, and let's leave it at that. However, as I matured, I've come to the realization that having a desire for something doesn't always have to mean you have to be the best at it, nor look at it competitively. Otherwise, your biggest boundary for growth is yourself. With hobbies such as my love for volleyball, SRLA, and the art of makeup, I only learned more about myself and the true definition of what dedication is.
When I first picked up volleyball in 7th grade, never did I think about the challenges and mental boundaries it would bring to me. With the simple desire to play, I joined a recreational team, and as I grew a passion for volleyball, it became more than a sport; it also became a mental challenge. With every ball I can't get up, or get over the net, I quickly feel the disappointment in myself, as my heart drops to the ground, wishing I was isolated in a room by myself. In hopes of overcoming this feeling, I would go home and practice on my own, watch videos, and educate myself more on the sport. Facing the challenge of my own judgment in my head, and physical exhaustion, it wasn't always easy to motivate myself to practice more. After a rough season in 8th grade, I could hardly motivate myself to practice, which I still am struggling with and recovering from.
Alongside volleyball, my passion for SRLA comes with a heavy heart at times; SRLA stands for Students Run L.A., an organization that aims to challenge underserved secondary students to experience the benefits of goal-setting and help them prepare for the Los Angeles Marathon. Setting a goal of always wanting to better my running pace, it doesn’t always happen. The moment my phone announces how long it took to complete a mile, this information determines how I’ll spend the rest of my run that day, and what I’ll think of myself for the rest of the week. At times, these long-distance runs are pure self-motivation; although surrounded by hundreds of students, it’s really up to you whether you want to continue running or not, your team won’t be directly affected by the decision. On days when I know I need to run around my neighborhood, it’s difficult to motivate myself to actually get up and do it. Oftentimes, the knowledge of feeling pure pride after training is motivation enough to get yourself up. I struggle to find this motivation within myself. But it can be extremely motivating to think you must wake up at 5 a.m. in the morning to practice running a half marathon.
One of the things I can look forward to on special occasions is getting ready and prepared, which includes doing my makeup. The art behind putting makeup and the way it makes me feel during and afterwards is a feeling of pure confidence and peace, I crave without even realizing it. However, there are days I find myself not satisfied with what I see in the mirror afterwards. There are days when I will simply just move on with my day, other days when I take it off and try again, and other days when I decide I don’t have to wear makeup that day at all. Although this could ruin my mood, I know the passion I have for makeup. I know next time it’ll be better. Luckily, with my true love for makeup, I’ve never given up on it and continue to learn more and more, as well as grow my love for it constantly. As I get older and mature, I slowly start to see the deeper meaning of what feeling confident really is, and I see it as a way of gaining perseverance to do what I really love.
As I mentioned above, my hobbies come with their own struggles and are more than just something I like to do in my free time. These obstacles I face every day because of my hobbies allow me to grow as a person and are great practices of commitment and perseverance. Overall, I am grateful for the struggles I face due to them because at the end of a good day, I am confident and happy with what I've done.
Hobbies, Sports, and Motivational Activities for Teens
—Sofia Perez
Sofia is a self-driven person who loves to lead and inspire. She currently attends Magnolia Science Academy and loves to work with peers in order to collaborate on ideas. When not having fun with friends and family, you’ll likely find her doing something school-oriented. She plans to attend UCLA or UC Berkeley after graduating from high school, hoping to be a business owner.
—Michael Baradi, Young Adult Librarian, Mid-Valley Regional Branch Library