By Clark Campbell

Ever wondered how to get away from dress and homework, and lighten your load? I have a solution for you. Okay, actually I don’t, but Mr. Cates the chemistry teacher does. Mr. Cates, the sophomore and senior chemistry teacher, has been at TPA for three years, but it hasn’t been easy. Mr. Cates occupies quite a bit of his time with gaining and implementing new hobbies into his life. Mr. Cates explains, “I think hobbies are just meant to keep your brain occupied so it doesn’t rot into a pulp.”

Some of Mr. Cates’ past and current hobbies include 3D printing, freeze drying foods, video games, and buying different sorts of cars. Mr. Cates had his Jeep phase, where he bought around half a dozen Jeeps, fixed them and used them. He did the same thing for trucks, and presently, Nissan Leafs. Mr. Cates, a former member of the Navy and former employee of an airplane parts selling company, has learned to operate on many different types of vehicles, making him quite capable of his unique hobby. Mr. Cates also likes to drive radio-controlled cars. Once Mr. Cates went a bit too hard on his RC car and made it ignite, and start to smoke and burn.

But now you may ask yourself, how do I get a hobby? Easy, find your passion and pursue it. You may have to try many different things—like Mr. Cates —to find something you love, but it’s worth it. Mr. Cates tells us, “you learn a lot from experience.”  Hobbies can take away stress and help relieve any burdens you might have, and as Mr. Cates puts it, “it’s one of the few ways to stay sane.” So, go out and find a hobby that you’re passionate about, and make sure your brain doesn’t rot into a pulp while you’re at it.