Vicky Zhou, Period 5, 12/4/20, Day B

Vicky Zhou 
12/4/20
Period 5
Modern Mythology 2021

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

School has always left me with a busy schedule: after school, I would go to work, come home, and study. Suddenly, in the span of a week, I didn’t have to drag myself out of bed at 6 am, I didn’t have to spend 2 hours on the bus, I didn’t have to go to work anymore. It felt like I had quite literally all the time in the world. School became exponentially easier. I would finish work between each class period. For the first month, I couldn’t understand all the students who wanted to return to school. It was a blessing, especially for Junior year: the year that should have been the most stressful. As time went on, I slowly began to understand what my peers wished for. Aside from the social interaction that I missed, I was running out of ways to entertain myself. That feeling of having all the time in the world, came back to haunt me. My days became a broken record and it felt heavier than the stress that came with school. I needed to break that loop. 

I started by watching something new: anime. People who do watch it are often considered a “weeb,” a word that holds a negative connotation. For that very reason, I never thought to watch them, I couldn’t possibly be interested. Right? I could not have been more wrong. I watched nearly 3 seasons in a span of 2 days. The show is called Haikyuu; it follows two 1st year high school volleyball players that aim to win nationals. The plot was so simple; there wasn’t any betrayal or heartbreaks. It was simply volleyball and the journey to improving. And despite the simplicity, I clung onto every second the ball was in play, cheered at every moment of victory, and awed at every moment of improvement. The show in its entirety warmed my heart. I could go on for hours talking about how great it is, breaking down the significance of each friendship or listing their favorite desserts, but what I credit it the most for is introducing me to an entire culture that I was so ignorant to before. I had so quickly cast away an idea because I didn’t think I would be interested. After falling in love with the show and the manga (graphic novel), I was overwhelmed with guilt. I always talked about wanting to try new things and yet the mindset I held prior to reading it reflected nothing of that sort. Since then, I have made it a goal to be more open-minded about things I could do. Rather than neglecting it altogether, I told myself I had to at the very least gave it a chance before declaring it wasn’t for me.

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

As I continued to dive into Japanese related entertainment, I discovered the stories that came in the forms of manga and light novels. Reading these intricate stories reminded me of the love I had for books. It wasn’t that I had previously hated it, but it wasn’t exactly like I would pick one up during my free time. I started by ordering a couple of books and reading them during car rides or before sleeping. 

I admired those who kept a journal; their book filled with doodles and schedules. In the past, I wished I could produce something to that extent, but one good look and anyone can tell that the owner of the book poured hours into filling it in. I told myself I couldn’t do the same, as I simply did not have the time. Reflecting on the new mindset, I decided to purchase a bullet journal. Throughout the summer I spent hours pieces together magazine cutouts and printed stickers to surround the pages. With each page, I tracked my habits: work-outs, skincare routine, sleep schedule, water intake, and daily activities. Despite having less time because school has started, I continue to fill in my journal. The feeling of relaxation and moments of excitement after seeing each page outweighed the initial stress of misusing time. Looking back now, I can remember exactly what I did during the month of July: exactly how I spent my birthday. The nostalgia I get from experiencing the past with such vivid details inspires me to continue this even in college. Once again, I had realized that I tossed aside a hobby without experiencing it first. 

As my days began to transform, I continued to seek more change. Since school started, I have picked up drawing. At first glance, the patience required was intimidating but nonetheless, I grabbed my iPad and began to sketch silhouettes. After class ended, I borrowed my friend's penny board and glided through Brooklyn. It was shockingly freeing despite riding next to cars. Just two weeks ago, after seven long years, I sat myself down in front of my piano and rediscovered the love that I initially possessed. No longer limited to classical music, I began to learn a song, one that originated from an anime.  

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

The older you get, the wiser you become. Recently, I began to understand this phrase better. Every day I sacrifice something, whether it is reading for drawing or playing piano for bullet journaling. That feeling of unlimited time had since faded away. Now I yearn for even an extra hour in my week. There is so much more I want to do with the hobbies that I have, but more importantly, there are so many more hobbies I have yet to discover. There isn’t anyone that has the exact same interest as I. With every recommendation I received, I took it into consideration. Their suggestions helped me discover new music that is overwhelmingly addictive, stories that make me sob, and games that I spend hours on. I can’t wait to be in my 60s; I wonder what new hobbies I will pick up in the next 43 years. 

People so easily cast negative comments over things they have no experience at. When I first got my VR, my brother was quick to say it was a waste of money. After a couple minutes of playing the game, he refused to stop. He even offered to buy it off of me. I envy those who have experienced more than me and my blood boils when others refuse to try something new. Just as I have introduced a new hobby to my brother, I hope that I can influence my friends and family in the same way.