Senior Abi Hartmann

Sitting on a light pink quilt she made herself last year, senior Abi Hartmann crochets a face cloth in under ten minutes.

“It feels good making my own stuff as opposed to buying things,” Hartmann said. “It’s a feeling of accomplishment.”

Hartmann’s self-sufficient outlook on life has allowed her to learn how to knit, crochet, quilt, sew, and bake among many other various hobbies.

“If I find something that I want and I don’t want to buy it, I’ll just make it,” Hartmann said.

Hartmann likes the idea of making things for herself and supporting smaller businesses rather than fueling large corporations.

“I get frustrated with capitalistic America,” Hartmann said. “I don’t like the idea of mega corporations.”

Last winter, Hartmann created a design for a headband ear warmer and sold them to some of her friends. She estimates she profited around $300.

“I like learning new patterns so I can decide what I want to make,” Hartmann said.

Hartmann’s favorite hobby is crocheting. However, though she makes various items for friends and family, she doesn’t believe it will turn into a business.

“I make stuff for people if they ask me to, or I make them as gifts,” Hartmann said. “But I don’t think I’d be able to mass produce them.”

Hartmann says she saves money by sewing holes, tears and missing buttons instead of purchasing new clothes.

“A lot of what I do is fixing stuff, and I save money doing this,” Hartmann said. “I repurpose old things so I can use it again.”

Hartmann’s hobbies aren’t typical for a regular teenager, though her self-sufficient attitude is beneficial for her lifestyle.

“I’m such an old lady with my interests,” Hartmann said. “I’m 90 at heart.”

Junior Nathan Stacy

Sitting at his Sohmer & Co. piano on Wednesday, Nov. 9, junior Nathan Stacy begins a piece called “Ballade” by Johannes Brahms that he played at a competition in October. Stacy has been playing piano for 12 years.

“It’s fun to play. I like practicing when I know how to play something,” Stacy said. “But it’s hard to actually learn how to play it.”

Known to most as a basketball player rather than a piano player, Stacy doesn’t have trouble balancing his hobbies.

“During basketball season, I just practice piano less,” Stacy said.

For the past 12 years, Stacy has taken piano lessons every Wednesday evening.

“I have a piano recital in April and a contest in the fall,” Stacy said. “You’re rated one to four, with four being the highest score. I’ve been doing pretty well, I’ve had six performances [judged] with a score of four and one performance with a score of three.”

Stacy tries to practice everyday, usually for about 10 minutes per day.

“I practice more when I actually know a song,” Stacy said. “I love being able to play a song from memory.”

Junior Chloe Stewart

Since a very early age, junior Chloe Stewart knew that singing was her passion. Though in addition to singing, Stewart enjoys all forms of music; she plays ukulele and piano as well.

“I love all of my hobbies, but my favorite is singing, it’s so personal,” Stewart said. “Singing allows you to really connect with the music and understand it.”

Stewart is involved in Allegro Community Children’s Choir, which meets every Monday. Every three years, the choir takes an international trip. Last summer, the group went to Italy and sang at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

“I really love music and I love being around people who share the same passion,” Stewart said.

In addition to singing, Stewart has also been taking piano lessons for eight years.

“I started taking piano lessons in the second grade,” Stewart said. “It started out as a thing my mom signed me up for and I really started enjoying it.”

As well as singing and playing piano, Stewart also taught herself how to play ukulele.

“I just had friends that played [ukulele] and I thought it was really cool, so I just picked it up,” Stewart said.

Stewart also teaches piano lessons to five different students each week for half an hour each lesson.

“It’s difficult to balance things sometimes,” Stewart said. “It’s hard because teaching piano conflicted with musical rehearsals.”

Among all of her hobbies, Stewart manages to balance homework and studying with her other activities.

“I try to start homework when I get home,” Stewart said. “I try to stay organized and on top of things.”

Stewart plans to double major in choral conducting and music education, and hopes to be a choir director in a high school or collegiate setting.

“Music is the universal language,” Stewart said. “Everyone loves music.”