Outside my research and teaching, I enjoy hobbies that bring creativity, patience, and balance into my daily life. These interests allow me to slow down, stay curious, and appreciate the small details often overlooked.
Life with My Green Cheek Conure
Caring for my Green Cheek Conure (Chick and Ducky) has been one of the most rewarding parts of my life outside academia. Birds require patience, understanding, and gentle consistency—qualities that also shape how I approach teaching and research. Watching my bird’s daily routines reminds me to find joy in small, quiet moments.
Exploring Baking as a Creative Craft
Baking combines precision and creativity, two traits I value deeply. I enjoy experimenting with new recipes, perfecting classic pastries, and sharing homemade treats with friends and family. Baking challenges me to balance structure with flexibility—an approach that also resonates with my academic work.
Finding Calm through Color Pencil Drawing
Drawing with colored pencils allows me to slow down and pay attention to detail. I enjoy creating simple sketches that capture the beauty of ordinary scenes, whether it’s a flower or a peach. This hobby strengthens my ability to observe closely—something that also enriches my research.
Photography: Capturing the Everyday
Photography offers me a way to document small wonders, from birds and nature to quiet corners of everyday life. Looking through a lens helps me see the world more attentively. It is a practice of mindfulness and appreciation, teaching me to notice light, texture, and fleeting moments.
In addition to everyday scenes, I also explore astrophotography — capturing the beauty of the night sky, from galaxies to nebulae — which deepens my sense of awe and connection to the universe.
Roller Skating: Freedom and Focus
Roller skating brings a sense of freedom, movement, and energy into my routine. It requires balance, rhythm, and quick adjustment—skills that parallel the adaptability needed in academic work. Whether skating outdoors or practicing new moves, it offers both physical refreshment and mental clarity.
Building with LEGO: Creativity and Precision
Building with LEGO allows me to combine imagination with careful planning. I enjoy designing structures, following intricate instructions, and sometimes creating my own ideas. It is a playful way to exercise problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and patience—qualities that also support my academic work.
Hiking: Exploration and Resilience
Hiking offers a way to reconnect with nature while challenging both body and mind. I enjoy exploring trails, observing landscapes, and experiencing the changing seasons firsthand. Hiking fosters resilience, mindfulness, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world—qualities that enrich both personal growth and academic life.
Animal Observing: Patience, Discovery, and Sharing
Observing animals allows me to slow down and connect with nature in a quiet, thoughtful way. I enjoy watching a variety of species, from birds to cicadas shedding their skins, playful raccoons, and squirrels. I find joy not only in noticing their behaviors and subtle beauty, but also in capturing and sharing these moments on YouTube.
Whether spotting a rare bird or documenting everyday scenes in nature, this hobby cultivates patience, curiosity, and attention to detail—qualities that also enrich my research and teaching.
Making Friends: Connection, Growth, and Shared Joy
Making friends has been one of the most meaningful aspects of my life journey. It allows me to build genuine connections, learn from others, and share moments of laughter and support. I enjoy getting to know people from diverse backgrounds—whether through school, work, or unexpected encounters—and finding common ground that blossoms into lasting friendship. I treasure the quiet talks, spontaneous adventures, and even the misunderstandings that help deepen trust and understanding.
For me, friendship is not about quantity but about depth. I find joy in listening, supporting, and growing together. Whether it’s helping a friend through a tough time or simply enjoying a meal together, these shared experiences enrich both my personal life and professional relationships.
Friendship teaches empathy, openness, and the beauty of being seen and accepted as you are—qualities that continually shape who I am as a person, a researcher, and an instructor.
These hobbies keep me grounded, curious, and creative, helping me bring fresh energy and new perspectives into both my personal and professional life.