Taking a deep breath, a girl steps up to the ring. She spins around, outstretching her arm which causes a ball to fly across the field, carried by the momentum from her swing. This same student later sits down, a hook in her hand to create a bunny with a ball of yarn and some fluffing, carefully making stuffed animals to sell at a local art market. Both of these things are included in the umbrella term of hobbies, and both of the hobbies listed above are attributed to Ames High junior, Lily Mellies.

“I think a hobby is an activity that you use to fill your free time,” Mellies said. “It’s a really broad category which a lot of activities fall into.”

In today’s society, many people find they have very little time to give to hobbies. Mellies reflects on hobbies, how much time she can spend on hers, and what benefits they add to her life.

Mellies’s hobbies include crocheting, reading, and throwing shot put during the track season. Despite these contrasting hobbies, each different activity she participates in benefits her in its own way. In early October, Mellies created several homemade animals and sold them at the Lucky Star Market. Crocheting, typically seen as a hobby for elderly women, contrasts with the physically taxing competition during track, but both are valuable to provide different outlets for Mellies.

“Crocheting and reading are very relaxing for me and I usually do them at the end of the day to help me unwind,” Mellies said. “Throwing shot put is a great form of exercise that I really enjoy.”

On top of crocheting, shot put, and reading, Mellies has expressed an interest in graphic design, taking the art class once every year of high school.

“I really enjoy doing graphic design at school but it’s not something that I usually do outside of school,” Mellies said. “I think doing graphic design or some other form of art could be really cool and a great new experience.”

Despite her variety in interests, it can sometimes be difficult for her to find time to put into her hobbies. This is a common issue for students, especially with how much time is required to put into school and homework.

“The main thing that prevents me from doing my hobbies is school,” Mellies said. “Chores, after-school activities, and homework also keep me very occupied.”

Mellies believes hobbies are important to anyone’s life, saying, “I think that my life would be pretty boring if I didn’t have any hobbies.”