Law students discuss their COVID-19 hobbies
The global pandemic has unleashed countless lockdowns and a seemingly endless stream of bad news. There is no doubt all of this has taken a toll on our mental health. To cope, experts suggest focusing on things within our control and setting routines. Hobbies are perfect for this. They are a great way of restoring a glimpse of normalcy during these uncertain times and facilitating structure and growth. The silver lining of summer quarantine, if you look very closely, is that it granted many of us an abundance of time. Using that time to binge watch Netflix, try new recipes, or rearrange our bedrooms are all valid ways to help manage stress and anxiety in the age of COVID.
Many students from the law school community dedicated their quarantine time to reconnecting with their old hobbies or picking up new ones.
Creative outlets
Madison Frehlick (1L)
When Madison came across the technique of sewing on canvas on social media, she coupled acrylic paint with needle and thread to create unique pieces with texture and contrast. “It started as a fun project and turned into my quarantine hobby,” said Madison. She began by making pieces for her friends, who chose the colours and designs they preferred.
“Eventually, I started taking liberties when it came to style and design choices,” she said. Drawing inspiration from Pinterest, she layered colours and threads to line drawings to bring pieces to life. “I’ve always painted and loved doing that, so incorporating acrylic paint into these sewn pieces is my way of making them my own.”
Madison was grateful for the opportunity to focus on her art during the pandemic. “I have only been able to dedicate time to art sporadically and minimally over the years due to school and work, but I was appreciative that I was able to focus on it in a time that had so much chaos,” she said. Painting and sewing offered her peace and calm during these difficult times. “It was also a nice way to make a little bit of pocket change and also fill my own apartment walls with customized art,” she added.
Photo Credit: Madison Frehlick
Hunter Carlson (2L)
Hunter dedicated her lockdown time to another art form — beading. Hunter learned beading from her sister, an advanced beader and fellow law student. “I learned everything I know from her, beading-wise,” she clarified. As beading can be time consuming, Hunter does not always have the opportunity to bead when school is in full swing. “For the wolf, I think I spent a couple of hours a day for about a week. To give some context, my sister has spent the better part of a year beading graduation regalia,” she said. For Hunter, beading was a nice balance to her other more active hobbies during quarantine.
Photo credit: Hunter Carlson
Hands-on Innovation
Sabina Haque (1L)
During lockdown, Sabina spent her time making Rube Goldberg machines. Designed to perform simple tasks, these systems complete their jobs through a complicated series of actions, each triggering the initiation of the next.
“I have always been a fairly restless person. When the first lockdown hit, I could not sit still,” Sabina said. She decided to reconnect with Rube Goldberg machines, which she first started making when she was nine years old. Her machines are created with ordinary household materials including dominoes, cards, toilet paper, cardboard, chairs, a Justin Bieber puzzle box, ping pong balls, and more. “I just walk around my house and look at different items, trying to reimagine how they could be used,” she said.
Unlike the tasks they are designed to achieve, the process of building a Rube Goldberg machine is far from quick and simple. “The most enjoyable thing about building the machines was the satisfaction I felt after one actually worked. Building Rube Goldberg machines is just a constant cycle of trial and error,” Sabina explained. Although the process can be frustrating, she looks forward to what she describes as the “short-lived bliss” when her ideas come to life. Sabina also enjoys the challenge of finding new creative uses for ordinary items. “I definitely want to build intricate [machines] when I have the time and energy.”
Photo credit: Sabina Haque
As Seen on TV
Rebecca Rosenberg (1L)
Inspired by the genius of Beth Harmon, Rebecca began playing chess after watching the Netflix sensation, The Queen’s Gambit. She and her father are both novice players learning together. “I like having to anticipate what the other player is going to do,” she said. It is a good distraction for Rebecca, especially when she needs to dive into something other than case briefing. “I find [chess] very calming. It helps you take a step back and focus on one thing for a bit, which can be especially helpful as a student who has to constantly think about readings or stare at a Zoom screen all day.”
A Steady Beat
Gina Kwon (1L)
Gina took time during quarantine to pick up drumming again. She first learned from a drummer who is now in an indie band called Featurette and played in her middle school music programme. Her preferred pieces have evolved from marching snare solos to disco beats. In particular, she enjoys playing covers of Boney M, a vocal group prominent during the groovy 70’s. She also likes playing pop covers as if she is “playing her life’s own soundtrack,” she joked. Drumming has been fun and grounding for Gina during the pandemic. “I’ve been away from home a lot these past three years and can’t bring my kit with me while travelling, so it’s been nice to be settled and have the kit lying in the basement to use, practice, and decompress during quarantine.”
Photo Credit: Gina Kwon
Staying Active
Yiwei Jin (1L)
Yiwei brushed up on his juggling, which he first learned in a club at Queen’s University. “There was something very satisfying about being able to keep three or four balls flying in the air. It’s a physical exercise that keeps your mind occupied, so it’s also good for de-stressing,” Yiwei said. “Plus, it looks cool.”
This unique hobby takes more than just coordination and concentration. “A good juggling routine is very creative and aesthetically pleasing,” Yiwei said. Juggling was especially helpful for Yiwei during lockdown because it could be done anywhere. “It keeps me active, and unlike some other exercises, you always feel like you’re developing new skills, so there is a sense of progress. You also get better at remaining graceful after dropping the ball, which is a skill that comes in handy during law school.”
Rachel Bryce (4L JD/ MGA)
During lockdown, Rachel learned how to longboard. She first learned the basics of longboard movement from the wonderful world of YouTube. “After that, learning was all about practice, per usual,” she said. She practiced in neighbourhood schools yards and eventually graduated to the quieter neighbourhood streets. She warns any novice boarders to not become overconfident. “After picking up my board in the Beaches, we thought it would be a good idea to make use of that gorgeous boardwalk to practice. A busy boardwalk, a small hill, and zero skills turned into a pretty messy fall. Lessons were learned that day.”
Despite a couple of bumps in the road, Rachel found that longboarding was a great way to explore the city and stay social throughout the summer. “Longboarding is so freeing. I absolutely loved the feeling of coasting down the bike lines and breathing in the fresh summer air,” she said. “I highly recommend hitting up Ontario Place; such beautiful waterfront paths with plenty of space to avoid pedestrians. Or more likely, have them avoid me,” she joked. Teaching herself how to longboard was meaningful for Rachel during the quarantine. “It boosted my confidence, gave me a much needed escape, and allowed me to see our city in a new light,” she said. Rachel hopes to glide through the city again once the weather gets warmer.
Caption: The view from the board at Ontario Place. Photo Credit: Rachel Bryce
Pet Training
Sophie Zhao (3L)
Sophie began training her betta fish, Sapphire, during the pandemic. The idea of training her pet fish sparked from Sophie’s background in psychology, where she was intrigued by the principles of conditioning and wanted to put them into practice. Sophie described Sapphire’s personality as “very lively” and “exuberant.” The little fish is reactive and takes notice when Sophie walks up to her tank and follows Sophie’s finger when she puts it by the tank. “I’ve been able to put my finger above the water and get her to jump out quite a bit. After each time she jumps, I feed her a food pellet. So over time, she learned to consistently do this,” Sophie explained. For Sophie, interacting with another living creature and working to have it respond to her kept lockdown interesting. “You’re encountering another consciousness and you don’t know what it’s thinking, which is kind of mysterious,” she said.
Reading for Pleasure
Teodora Pasca (3L JD/MA Criminology)
In the absence of heavy law school readings, Teodora seized the opportunity to read for pleasure during the summer lockdown. She started a book club that gathered over Zoom to discuss a book each month. They voted on their books through a poll that included everyone’s book recommendations. Teodora enjoyed the insights she gained from their discussions. “It seemed to me like everyone had a different perspective and take on the material,” she said. “I personally like reading fiction especially because it feels like a good escape and gives me a break from the screen time. Plus, it’s such a wrongful feeling when you finish a book and now have one more story in your head.” Although the club has been less active since the start of the school year, Teodora’s book club is a shining example of the community spirit that emerges from COVID.Teodora has been trying to read more during quarantine and the Toronto Public Library as well as audiobooks have helped. “I tend to read before bed and it really helps me sleep, especially during such a stressful period,” she added. Teodora recommends The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn for anyone looking to establish a habit of reading for pleasure.
