The lost year: Finding new hobbies

During the pandemic, Washington students found themselves with more time on their hands. As a result, many picked up new hobbies and interests to pass the days. 


Hanya Hussain

Hanya Hussain (on the right), in a brown shirt, wearing a bandana and her friend in a black sweater (on the left), both wearing black masks, against the backdrop of trees and the blue sky.
Hanya Hussain in a checkered mask and white shirt with a flower pattern against the backdrop of greenery and a lake.

Washington sophomore Hanya Hussain described how during quarantine, she felt like she was spending too much time indoors on her phone. 

Because of this, she picked up a new hobby of biking. It was a great way to spend time outdoors and get exercise. “There’s a park that’s really close to my house, so I started biking around there since it’s such a nice and quiet place,” Hanya explained. “I was really bored and biking around the park was a fun thing to do with my friends.”


Fayha Kauser

Washington junior Fayha Kauser began making jewelry by hand, specifically focusing on rings. Fayha shared that “I got my inspiration from TikTok and social media, because I saw some small businesses creating jewelry from household items and stuff like that.”

Fayha enjoys wearing jewelry and was really bored, so she decided to create beaded rings from materials lying around her house. This was a fun way for Fayha to spend her time productively.

A hand, two beaded rings on the pointer finger—the bottom ring is made of clear beads and the top one alternates with green and orange beads, against the backdrop of a white wall.
A ring with green and orange alternating beads on a black thread.

Asees Aulakh

Pencil drawing of an eye and eyebrow.
Pencil drawing of a bearded man with curly hair, wearing a thick coat.
Pencil drawing of a girl smoking a cigarette.

Freshman Asees Aulakh spent her free time during the pandemic making art. “I like sketching, drawing, shading, and everything in between,” she says. 

Asees has been drawing for around 5 years and even went to classes for some time, but she reignited her passion for it during quarantine. “I have been practicing and well it’s not the best,” says Asees. “But I’m getting there.” 

Asees likes having fun with her art. “I was trying to replicate what was around me,” she said. She likes drawing realistic things such as eyes and facial features. To Asees, drawing is a good way to cure boredom.


Sneha Kamboj

Sneha Kamboj, sitting criss cross applesauce, wearing a long-sleeved gray shirt and black leggings, playing her guitar in her room, against the backdrop of a yellow wall with a painting of a sunset.

Sneha Kamboj, a freshman at Washington, began playing a new instrument. “I was getting really bored and I love music, so I picked up the guitar,” says Sneha. This is not Sneha’s first time playing an instrument. She has previously played other string instruments such as the sitar.

“I have learned a few basic songs so far,” says Sneha. Since she has had previous musical experience, learning the guitar was not too difficult for her. Her passion for music continues to grow.

Nishika Datla is a junior at Washington High School. She was born in Hayward, but has lived in Fremont her entire life. This is her third year with The Hatchet, and she is the News Editor and the website manager this year. She is interested in covering stories about the arts, activism, and important events in both the Washington community and the world. Nishika enjoys drawing, crocheting, playing badminton, and hanging out with her friends. In the future she hopes to go to college and become a scientist.

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