Take note freshmen, and maybe some of you sophomores out there, too. If you don’t already have a hobby, start looking now.

I came to the sad realization over the summer that, after homework and work, I have no hobby, nothing to do in my spare time that might be considered even slightly productive.

Not even anything simple that would take my mind off of the stress of life.

My productivity over the summer included work, hanging out with my boyfriend and taking care of the one thing that means most to me, my dog. Then I realized once the summer was over, these things would be placed on a back burner that’s now 45 minutes away.

The summer became an expedition of hobby hunting.

First, I tried picking up a sport, of any kind. After two days of trying out running, I realized that my body is not equipped for prolonged physical activity.

I tried to pick up on arts and crafts; knitting, crocheting and drawing, but then I realized my artistic abilities were even worse than the physical ones.

I tried surfing the Web to find something interesting to learn while passing the time. A long time ago, this might have been something I could do for hours, but now, e-mail, Facebook and the occasional YouTube search take no time at all.

The one thing I’ve always wanted to pick up on is video games. After watching my three brothers play their games, I always thought it would be easy to learn. But having no experience playing, I found I would have to slowly build my way up to higher difficulty, or quit out of time consumption.

Once you turn 21, if you don’t already have a hobby, there really aren’t many places to turn.

I realize I really don’t want to waste my money on something that’s all about chance, so gambling’s out of the question and alcohol’s just too expensive.

If only I had allowed someone somewhere along the line to encourage me to go to some kind of campus activity, I might feel more comfortable getting into my own thing.

There are so many things going on around campus. It’s not like I don’t have any options.

There are sporting events, campus diversity clubs, intramural activities, theater productions, academic activities, community service opportunities, religious organizations and language groups.

There are greek houses, student government bodies, campus jobs, music performances, political interest groups and student run media, all of which offer hours of entertainment every week.

But I feel like I’ve put myself in a position where it’s not within my comfort to get out there and try these things after two years of not.

I think to myself that starting one of these now would be a waste of my time, whereas had I started out as a freshman, it would have allowed me to come out of my shell.

From someone who has a huge box she’s put herself in, I’m just trying to tell people to step outside of their comfort zones before they end up in their own boxes.

If you actually have an interest in something that might not already be an activity here, make it one.