Starting New Hobbies in College
When I came to college I was so excited to get involved in so many different activities, but I had no idea if I would be out of place trying out new things. I think there’s a bit of a misconception at this school that every single club requires an intense and competitive application process, which is not the case! I also think hobbies in college are underrated – it’s important to pursue things just for fun, with friends, and outside of professional or academic pursuits. It’s definitely possible to start new interests with little to no experience. Here are a few examples of many possibilities.
“I joined Orchesis this year! The last time I danced was ballet at age 3 and now I am back in my ballet era, which is quite unexpected but lots of fun. I was in a beginners dance at first and now I’m in harder dances.” – Liz
Columbia Orchesis is a dance group that is open to all – anyone who auditions will be cast! There are a variety of dance styles, weekly rehearsals, and one performance at the end of the semester. Students at a variety of levels in dance get involved.
“I’ve danced before college, but I’ve been hoping to start tapping for a while. I joined Columbia Untapped, which is open to all. I had a small group and two wonderful students who taught us all the basics of tap dancing, and at the end of the semester we participated in the Untapped Showcase!”
“Button making at the Design Center! Also I love The Barnard Zine Club because it is a low barrier club where I get to just be happy and craft.” – Shira
The Barnard Design Center is open to all Barnard and Columbia students, as long as you take a safety training first. They also have beginner workshops for students to learn how to use different tools and develop new skills (for example, sewing, carving, screen printing, 3D printing, and electronics.)
The Barnard Zine Club is a club that anyone can join which meets for themed events and works on a semesterly Zine.
“I used to crochet and knit when I was younger, but I haven’t in a while and had been meaning to go back. My friend invited me to Gosh Yarn It, the yarn crafts club, and everyone there was so kind and the environment was so relaxed and fun. They have beginner hour at the start of every meeting, where you can learn from scratch, or get a refresh as I did. They also have supplies at every meeting for you to use.”
“I became a runner and ran the Brooklyn Half Marathon last year!” - Ellie
There are several great spots for running near campus (Riverside Park, Central Park, Dodge gym). I know students who haven’t really run before and form running groups in college. There are also races that are run by the city in Central Park and beyond!
“While I have been writing for a while, I’d never participated in any sort of formal writing group, or workshop. This year a couple of my friends encouraged me to join a creative writing workshop, which I applied for and got into. It has a nice range of students who have never taken a writing class and students who are creative writing majors, which has been a fun experience! I’m also learning a lot about writing opportunities outside of class, such as literary magazines (Barnard Echoes!). There’s also a book club, Barnard Bookworms, that is open to all and that I haven’t been involved in but have been meaning to check out!”