As an engineering student, I typically have many different tasks to juggle each week. From club meetings and research to midterms and volunteering, I don’t ever feel bored. Every time I finish finals, I expect to feel incredibly relieved and content for all of Winter and Summer break. I can’t speak on behalf of other college students, but that feeling really only lasts 24 hours max for me. Once I’ve maxed-out my capacity for doing nothing, I always have to find a new project.
This year, I decided to learn to crochet. For those of you who don’t know, crocheting is pretty much knitting but with only one needle so the stitches are a little different. I found crocheting to be not only incredibly relaxing but also really gratifying once I finished a piece. Crocheting takes concentration, but not too much so I was always able to watch Netflix in the background (Great British Baking Show or Avatar normally). While most people enjoy crocheting large sweaters or bags, I focused more on cute little plush animals or objects to mail to my friends during quarantine.
Appa Crochet!
While crocheting was a fun pass time during break, I never really expected to do anything meaningful with it. After a couple months of crocheting, I had the opportunity to join a fundraising group called More Good Ahead. Led by one of my friends in Troy Camp, More Good Ahead is a group of USC students fundraising through arts and crafts for different philanthropies. We raised money for Black Lives Matter, USC Troy Camp, and more.
I feel very lucky that I can use a little hobby that brings me so much joy to actually make some change (however big or small). If you are interested in donating to one of the charities through More Good Ahead, be sure to check out @More_Good_Ahead on Instagram! There are so many students making beautiful artwork like jewelry, paintings, and embroidery designs all for great causes. 🙂
