Sayandeep Chakraborty
2nd Year, BA LLB

Hobbies form a major part of our lives, especially when in school. Our hobbies define us- set us apart from the rest of the clan. But the one thing our hobbies need is time, something that an average college-goer does not have a lot of. In college, academics, assignments, and submissions make up the usually hectic schedule of students, who are left with next to no time for things they consider their hobbies. Here are some reasons why college is the best place to pursue your hobbies:

● An escape from the ordinary: The workload on a student is indeed heavy, and everyone needs a break to break out of the monotony. Hobbies serve as this needed escape. Spending time doing something we love not only brings about variety and adventure to our hectic routines but also refreshes us so that we can dive back into our routines and start afresh.

● Networking: This is probably the most important benefit that might come attached with pursuing your hobbies, from a future professional’s point of view. If you’e actively seeking a hobby of yours, chances are you will come across many people with similar tastes and interests, and hence your network grows. A story that keeps doing its rounds on the internet is about how a girl who was actively into reading came across Stephen King in a public library at the stroke of luck, and they became long-term acquaintances. So we never know what our hobbies or habits might lead to, but getting to build a great network of acquaintances while doing something we love doesn’t sound bad at all.

● Potential career opportunities: Once you have a network of like- minded people who share similar interests, chances are potential career opportunities will also come your way. This is one of the greatest perks of having an extensive network; it would become possible only if you actively pursue your hobbies while in college.

● Having money to make the most of a pursuit: In college, we finally have some money to spend on a pursuit. Any hobby, be it painting, music, or a sport, needs financing, and in college, we are finally there in life where we can afford to spend a few bucks behind it.

● The 100% of the College Life Experience: At the very end, pursuing our hobbies and balancing the roles of a prudent college student along with assignments and internships make up the complete college experience. College is not solely about academics but about doing everything that brings you joy and living the life you dreamt of having as a high-schooler.

In a nutshell, we should never turn our backs on things that truly make us happy, and our hobbies are precisely those things.

So dive right in.