Off the Clock: My Creative Outlets

shani MAE
May 1, 2025
5 min read

Know Me

Outside of academics and my career goals, I believe it’s just as important to make time for the things that bring me joy and help me recharge. Whether it’s listening to music, drawing, watching movies, or spending time with friends and family, these small moments keep me grounded.

My hobbies give me space to relax, be creative, and enjoy life beyond the pressure of school and responsibilities. They remind me that balance is key, even for someone with big goals like becoming a surgeon.

Hobbies

I do a lot of hobbies, creative ana artistic ones, some are self development hobbies that could help me in the near Future.

Micro-Hobbies

I started Crocheting around 2023, I found it really relaxing and creative, it feels like an accomplishment whenever I finish a project.

Currently I'm trying to make a cardigan from scratch, and I do hope I can finish this one soon.

I've always enjoy reading, mostly on self-improvement and romance novels. I Find it relaxing and calming, like I'm in my own world. It does help me critically think and stuff, allows me to obtain new vocabulary terms, If I'm not doing anything, I usually just read.

I've read like Laws of Power, Atomic Habits, Friedrich Nietzsche, Haunting Adeline, Tender is the Flesh, Ikigai, Ego is the Enemy and more.

At first I didn't like the idea of journaling that much, I didn't know what to put and it kinda sounds boring at first.

But once I started it, And backread my notes, it helped to actually become a better person, I've improved a lot a I had kept track of my behavior and my interest.

My Dad taught me how to cook, he was once a chief, my favorite part during cooking is chopping and dicing foods.

I make my own food and sometimes I cook for my family's dinner or lunch. I like trying new stuff in cooking like different food nationalities.

The reason why I'm also consistent with cooking, is because I wanna master It, so I can cook for my Future family, Husband and kids.

Macro-Hobbies

I actually started running this February 2025, a virtual friend helped get into it. At first it was hell, but days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months.

I enjoy running, it helps me focus on myself, allows me to be at peace, healthy, focus and my mental health had also improved because of it.

I can run up to 8km and can run for 25mins continuously, I'm not fast but my endurance it improving a lot.

I started Video editing actually when I was still a kid, Kinemaster was so popular back then, I just edit random videos like green screen magic and stuff.

Right now I'm focusing on enhancing my video editing skills, It'll be helpful in the near future, I've posted contents and have edited for clients aswell.

My Uncle Introduced me to Arnis when I was in 7th grade, I stopped after 3 months and continued on 8th grade and so on.

Now I've stopped around this 2025, I've been doing Kali or Arnis for almost 5 years Now, I've gained a level of Yakan 2.

During my time in Arnis, I'm the one in charge of the Social media posts, It was a really fun and knowledgeable experience.

I've done designs around 2023, It's interesting for me, and it might look easy to design a certain posts but it really isn't, and so I underestimated it, now I'm currently improving how I design flyers, posts, and more.

I've also designed visual graphics for clients and have continued to do so, I've also designed posts from my Arnis class, I've volunteered to do so and now they rely on me for their social media.

I'm happy that I can give my services for people in need.

Each of my hobbies has shaped me into a better person in its own unique way. They've helped fill the gaps in my life whether it's relieving stress, boosting my mood, or simply giving me something to look forward to outside of school. These hobbies have not only improved my mental health by giving me peace and creativity, but they’ve also contributed to my physical well-being by keeping me active and mindful.

I want to continue discovering and exploring new hobbies, especially those that allow me to work with my hands or express myself in new, meaningful ways. Whether it's learning a new craft, picking up an instrument, or trying out a new physical activity, I’m excited to grow as a person through the things I love doing.

Interests

Cars n Bikes

I'm an F1 girly, and I absolutely love the world of motorsport. Currently, my favorite F1 driver is Michael Schumacher. He was a dominant force in Formula 1 for many years, with an incredible record of 91 Grand Prix wins and 7 world championships, a legacy that still leaves a huge mark on the sport today. What really amazes me is his intense focus, fearless racing style, and how he pushed both himself and his car to the absolute limit. His way of driving was not only technically brilliant but also emotionally charged, you could feel his determination in every lap. Watching old races and highlights of Schumacher always inspires me, and it reminds me how passion and discipline can lead to greatness, both on and off the track.

I like drifting, there's just something thrilling about the balance between control and chaos as a car slides through corners with precision. It's more than just speeding or showing off; drifting takes real skill, timing, and a deep understanding of how the car moves. Watching professional drivers pull off smooth, high-speed drifts is incredibly satisfying, and it’s a reminder of how art and technique can come together even in something as intense as motorsport. Whether it's in real life or watching clips online, drifting never fails to get my heart racing.

At first I like Bikes, I do still, but not as much as Cars, Someone got me into cars, and now I'm loving my experience with it. Currently my favorite is Toyota GR Supra Mk5, it's popular for drifting, the GR Supra sends power to the rear wheels only, this gives it the control and slide potential, it has lots of low-end torques which is perfect for initiating and holding drifts, Someone who I used to know drifted mostly on Porches. For Bikes, the Suzuki GSX R-1000 is currently in my interest, I like to go for speed.

Travelling

I think Everyone wants to travel, and it's probably everyone's Dream, My go to travel area is around Europe, I don't have a specific place that I really wanna travel on. Common areas like Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Iceland, Greenland, Monaco, Japan and etc.

Adrenaline Rush

I'm a chaotic type of person, I wanna do exciting things, maybe dangerous stunts, Adrenaline rush activities, Roller coasters, Bungee Jumping, Big drops, sky diving, Wake surfing, Jet skiing and more.