In a world of numerous possibilities, people try to find their purpose in life. For some its work, other its hobbies or a sport. Whatever it is, for it to be important in somebody’s life, they must have a passion for it.
The sense of living, breathing, and always thinking about that one thing that drives your everyday presence. Students throughout AHS have a variety of interests, goals, and stories that are well worth sharing. Maybe it can inspire others to find their passion or sense of purpose.
The reason we do these hobbies, activities, or sports come in all different forms. Whether it’s a calling, a feeling one would get, a parent or important figure showing and sharing their experience to somebody, or maybe it’s even a search for the love of what they do.
Regardless of the reason, people have found ways to feel like they belong with what they do on the daily. The crazy part about it all, is it could have simply started, by just taking a chance, and a step into what someone enjoys.
Grace Putnam (‘26) is a horse owner at AHS. She has been riding, taking care of, and training horses for over 12 years, and to this day expresses her love for what she does. “I’ve always loved horses. There’s always just a certain feeling that comes along with that. It’s irreplaceable” said Putnam. Whether it’s a family tradition, or in Putnam’s case a simple decision. Passions can arise from anywhere at any time.
“No matter what, whether it’s my horse, my friends, or one on the side of the road in a field. I will always be drawn to them” Putnam said, “I have no idea why but I know that I could never live without them”. The indescribable feeling of a force drawing you towards something you find so much joy in, is hard to explain to someone outside of your own world.
Putnam didn’t go at it alone. Her mom has supported her through all of this, and her trainer Shelby who shaped her to be the person she is around horses today. It’s hard to go through anything alone, including something you enjoy and put into your daily life. Putnam expresses her gratitude for the people who have helped her.
Not only is it with hobbies, or just another living thing in general, it comes with the great world of sports. One of the most common practices in the entire world, sports just aren’t a game we play. To some people it’s a way of living.
“I love what I do,” said baseball player at AHS Camden Knudson (‘26). “The competitive atmosphere that the game brings knowing that any play can change the game completely” Knudson said. Knudson has played since he was around 5-6 years old starting with tee ball, and from that point on has found a love for the competition and the sheer battle that baseball brings. Camden has a plan to attend California State University-Monterey Bay, and one of the key factors that veered to a decision, was simply doing what he loved.
“The competitive atmosphere of my family, we have all been athletes and my parents always push me to play the game as long as I can,” Knudson said. He explained the hardships of baseball that has gotten him through life with the mental and physical side of the game, that some people may not even realize helps with life as a whole. Without those slumps or rough patches in his baseball career, he wouldn’t of had a foundation for the character he has built for himself.
Jonah Swardstrom (‘26) has similar takes. Another baseball player, this time from Kamiak High school, has also been playing since he was young, around 5 years old. He plays as well because of the atmosphere the game brings and to just be around the people he enjoys.
“The feeling of success in baseball is unlike anything else,” said Swardstrom “Even during rough stretches it’s important to remember why you play”. Swardstrom plays the game to perfect his craft, the feeling of trying to be perfect in an imperfect world is the driving force for him.
“…Coaches and teammates have been the reason I still play baseball throughout the years. From advocating me, to supporting me in any way. My coaches have sacrificed a lot to help me on my journey” Swardstrom said.
No matter what it is, people are drawn to these activities or hobbies in all different ways. Some may view it as “Just a game” when it comes to sports or just a hobby or pet when it comes to other things. The thing is once you’re invested into what you want to do, and if the passion is real, you will find the enjoyment and importance of it in your life.
Not everyone will have an easy going time in their life, when it comes to finding and pursuing a passion of their own. In Jacob Dobson’s (‘26) case, it was more recent. After his Junior year of trying out for the baseball team, he was cut. So in a search for another way to exercise his talent, he joined track.
“If you’re not in a sport, join one,” said Dobson. “Getting better is what drives me to keep playing the sport I love. I have a tough time in track because you can put in so much work, go out, and under perform. It makes you question your talents” Dobson said.
Dobson strives for bettering himself in his sport and in life in general, but it has not only been from his own mind, but from the mind of head track coach Judd Hunter. Dobson explained how he pushed him to be the athlete he is, and was always raising the bar. Without the sport, the thriving action that Dobson comes across during the spring, he may not have met Hunter who pushed him, and some of his lifelong friends who still accompany him to this day.
The best part about most hobbies and sports is that without them, a lot of people may not have met some of their best friends, life companions, or even grown closer with coaches, players, and even your parents. For varsity football quarterback Kaleb Bartlett-Wood (‘26), it was with his step-dad.
“My step-dad got me into it at a young age and I really enjoyed it and just stuck with it,” said Bartlett-Wood. Bartlett-Wood also explained how his friends have helped him through this as well. The unifying act of going through a tough rainy game or conditioning in practice, brings teammates closer together, where you go from companions, to brothers. As Bartlett-Wood said, the enjoyment of working together and coming out of a win as a team brings him satisfaction in his work. It all drew back to his step-dad, and his experience.
“…I saw all the friends and connections he made through it and I wanted the same for my life,” said Bartlett-Wood. The passing down of experience, talent, and stories is what we look up to, and take into consideration for the person we choose to be. He wouldn’t have had a chance at any of this, if it weren’t for his love of football.
The thing people choose to do, regardless of its importance, will shape who you are to this day, and nothing in this world will stop you from competing, training, learning, and as Collin Gainer (‘26) said it, getting better.
“The belief in that the work I put in and that things will work out if I keep a positive attitude” said Gainer. Since freshman year at Arlington High school, Gainer has worked at becoming one of the best track athletes in the program.
What has fueled his push at being not only a better athlete but a better person, has been track. The support from teammates and coaches always keeps him going, and the simple act of jumping into sand or over a bar brings him such satisfaction and much more significance then it sounds.
To have a true passion for something, it must be addicting to you. It drives your every day well being, it is on your mind 24/7, you can’t seem to separate yourself from that activity, and that’s ok. People will call you crazy, a lunatic, and try to prove to you “There’s more than just that in life?” but in your mind there’s not.
That’s what’s so fascinating about it all, that we will do anything to keep our dream alive. Whether or not you have been playing soccer for 15 years, or just started playing basketball, there is just not enough that it brings to you to satisfy your needs. There is nothing that gets in the way of you and your passion. Because your passion is you.
