Students at HHS now have a new environment to unwind and explore their interests. The Cozy Hobby Club, founded by science teacher Miss Mickayla Jackson, is a welcoming space that brings calm, creativity, and connection within the school community. The club began in the second semester of last year, taking place on Monday’s after school, and has continued to grow during the current fall semester of this new school year.
Jackson sees herself as a very crafty person who likes spending a lot of her time dedicated to her favorite hobbies.
“I tell everyone I’m a serial hobbyist,” Jackson said. “I like anything art-related, so you know, like painting, drawing, arts and crafts kinds of things. And then I’ve been getting into, as in students have been teaching me things like playing Animal Crossing, Hogwarts Legacy, and stuff.”
With being so hobby involved, Jackson got the idea to start the club after talking to her students, who encouraged her.
“I just have lots of hobbies that I like doing, and I was talking about it with [some students] and how it would be really fun to do different hobbies with students, and they kinda convinced me that I should start a club where we could just do whatever hobbies together,” Jackson said.
After her students successfully convinced her, she decided to start the club, and it began during the second semester of the 2024-2025 school year.
“It is a real club as of this year, so last year it was in a trial period,” Jackson said.
“This year, we kind of have a little bit more of a schedule, let’s say every second or every third Monday we’ve got something planned.”
As a new experience for Jackson, the club was initially more of a come-and-go-as-you-please, but this year it is different, with more plans throughout the year. On a previous Monday, the club came together and did pumpkin painting during their meeting after school. Jackson provided supplies like paint, brushes, and pumpkins. On other days, she still likes to keep it so that students can do whatever hobby they want.
“So we’re gonna have some things that are whole class and a little bit more structured, but then the other days it’s gonna be like, grab the hobbies you wanna work on,” Jackson said. “[One day] we painted pumpkins, so everyone came in and we had supplies to paint pumpkins, so we did that.”
Students are also provided with a multitude of different supplies during meetings where they focus on their own hobbies. Jackson provides a variety of supplies, including bracelet-making materials, paint, canvases, markers, puzzles, journals, and more.
“To have a set time where all I focus on are things like reading, crocheting, or painting, is really convenient,” Senior Nina Ndonwi said.
For many students, the Cozy Hobby Club offers a chance to step away from school and focus on personal interests. Whether it’s trying a new activity or simply having uninterrupted time for a favorite hobby, the club has become a good creative outlet for students.
“Coming [to the club] gives me an opportunity to do stuff that I don’t normally get to do,” Senior Kandace Taylor said. “I paint, do puzzles, do my homework, and sometimes I just sit there and talk to Miss Jackson.”
Looking forward, Jackson would like to take the club outside of the classroom.
“I would really love to, once a quarter or once a semester so twice a year, take students out, like on some type of field trip where we’re doing something kind of like a mix of doing something like a [hobby], but also giving back to the community since it’s a community-based thing.”
Jackson aims to build a close-knit community where everyone can come together to enjoy their favorite hobbies or work independently. Essentially, just providing a space for students to relax and focus on what they love to do.
“My hope for students is just finding hobbies and interests that maybe they already had or finding new things that interest them, and finding a community of other students who share the same interests and having a safe space to do things that they already have previously loved,” Jackson said.
