As a teenager, my friend Jenna poured her savings into restoring a vintage 1960s Ford Mustang, which she parked proudly in her driveway. She spent countless afternoons and weekends working on it, juggling her schoolwork and sports commitments. Other friends of mine were equally passionate about their interests, whether it was strumming the guitar or perfecting their skills on the piano. These activities were once simply dubbed “hobbies”—self-directed pursuits that they enjoyed either solo or with peers. Their parents were largely supportive but mostly hands-off, only stepping in to lend a hand or share advice when needed.
In contrast, my own teenage years were defined by “extracurriculars.” I took music lessons in high school, and those achievements were dutifully highlighted on my college applications. I participated in various sports teams, which I didn’t enjoy, solely to add more accomplishments to my resume for college admissions. While I truly loved being part of the drama club, I often viewed my engagement in these activities as a means to enhance my appeal to selective universities. Unlike my friends from earlier generations who had genuine hobbies, even those who were passionate were encouraged to frame their interests as “hooks”—the one thing that distinguished them from other applicants.
I can’t help but think this shift is generational. My husband, who is slightly older, is the youngest of a big family, and they attended college in the 1970s and ’80s. By the time I was applying in the early ’90s, the focus on how to spend free time had shifted dramatically, as college counselors started talking about “hooks.” Today, from what I hear from friends with teenagers, college applications have morphed into a lengthy endeavor where kids meticulously craft their resumes, grades, and activities to shine before institutions like Harvard and Yale.
When I worked as an SAT tutor in the early 2000s, I had a student named Sarah who loved playing the piano and attended weekly lessons. We met two or three times a week to prepare for her SATs and the English AP exam. To accommodate our sessions, her parents canceled her piano lessons, and she even opted to forgo her practice time to prioritize test prep. Throughout her junior year and half of her senior year, it seemed like she did little more than study, sidelining her passion for music because she felt her skills weren’t sufficient for conservatory admission.
The narrative around today’s overburdened and stressed-out youth is well-deserved. Teens are often sleep-deprived and lack sufficient exercise. Many are pushed by parents or their own ambitions to boost their grades, striving to elevate a B+ average to an A. The pursuit of “getting into a good college” has evolved into a drawn-out struggle where kids abandon what truly brings them joy to check yet another box on the “well-rounded applicant” list. While there are countless reasons to reconsider this high-pressure high school experience, one potential upside is the revival of hobbies.
I, too, have rediscovered a hobby—I now play the guitar. It doesn’t matter that I’m not that great at it; I genuinely enjoy it and wish I had more time to dedicate to it. If my kids show interest in activities like drawing comics or building model airplanes, I’ll be fully supportive. I hope that when they reach high school, I won’t find myself pressuring them to prioritize SAT prep over their passions. Who knows? I might end up succumbing to that pressure myself. After all, restoring a classic car could be quite the impressive addition to a college application.
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In summary, the distinction between hobbies and extracurriculars has shifted dramatically over the years. Where hobbies were once self-directed and nurtured, today they often serve as resume builders for college applications, sidelining the joy they once brought. It’s time we consider bringing hobbies back into the lives of the younger generation, allowing them the space to pursue what they love.
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