Том Сториз Современный английский для школьников. Школьные и жизненные ситуации на английском

Growing up and changing interests

A few years ago, I would have told you that I knew exactly what I liked and what I wanted to do. It felt simple back then. I had clear hobbies, clear favourite subjects, and even clear dreams. But recently, something has started to change, and it’s not as simple anymore.

It began quietly. I noticed that things I used to enjoy didn’t feel the same. For example, I used to spend hours playing certain games or watching the same types of videos, but now I get bored faster. At the same time, I started becoming interested in things I never really cared about before, like psychology, writing, or even how people make life decisions.

At first, I thought something was wrong. Why was I losing interest in things I once loved? It made me feel a bit confused, almost like I was losing a part of myself. But then I realized that maybe this is just what growing up feels like.

In school, I also noticed changes. Subjects I once found difficult started to feel more interesting, while others that I used to enjoy felt less exciting. It wasn’t sudden, more like a slow shift. My attention moved in different directions without me fully noticing it.

One afternoon, I was cleaning my room and found an old notebook from a few years ago. Inside were drawings, ideas, and lists of goals I had at that time. I read through them and smiled a little. Some of those goals felt childish now, but at that moment, they were real and important to me.

That’s when I understood something important: interests are not fixed. They change as you change. The person I was a few years ago is not exactly the same person I am now, and probably won’t be the same in the future either.

Still, change doesn’t always feel comfortable. Sometimes I miss my old interests because they felt familiar and simple. New interests can feel uncertain, like stepping into something I don’t fully understand yet. But at the same time, they bring curiosity, and curiosity is a strong feeling.

I talked about this with a friend, and she said something that stayed with me: «You’re not losing yourself, you’re just becoming more of yourself.» At first, it sounded a bit strange, but later it made sense. Maybe growing up is not about staying the same, but about slowly discovering new parts of who you are.

Now I try not to worry when my interests change. Instead of forcing myself to stay the same, I pay attention to what actually feels meaningful in the moment. Some things stay for a long time, others disappear quickly, and that’s okay.

On the way home one day, I noticed how different everything feels when you stop resisting change. The same streets, the same sounds, but a slightly different way of seeing them. And I thought that maybe growing up is not a big moment, but a series of small changes you only notice when you look back.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

grow up — взрослеть

change interests — менять интересы

a few years ago — несколько лет назад

feel simple — казаться простым

favourite subjects — любимые предметы

become interested in — начать интересоваться

lose interest in something — потерять интерес к чему-то

feel confused — чувствовать растерянность

a part of myself — часть меня

something is wrong — что-то не так

slow shift — медленное изменение

without noticing — не замечая

clean my room — убирать комнату

old notebook — старая тетрадь

look through something — просматривать

childhood goals — детские цели

feel childish — казаться детским

in the future — в будущем

feel uncomfortable — чувствовать дискомфорт

step into something new — входить во что-то новое

feel curious — чувствовать любопытство

stay with me — остаться в памяти

lose yourself — потерять себя

become more of yourself — становиться собой

pay attention to — обращать внимание на

meaningful in the moment — значимый в моменте

on the way home — по дороге домой

look back — оглядываться назад

small changes — маленькие изменения

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

I used to ___, but now I ___ — Раньше я ___, но теперь я ___

I started becoming interested in ___ — Я начал (а) интересоваться ___

It made me feel ___ — Это заставило меня чувствовать ___

I realized that ___ — Я понял (а), что ___

My interests are changing because ___ — Мои интересы меняются, потому что ___

I miss ___, but I also like ___ — Я скучаю по ___, но мне также нравится ___

I talked to someone who said ___ — Я поговорил (а) с человеком, который сказал ___

It feels like ___ — Это ощущается как ___

I am becoming more ___ — Я становлюсь более ___

I try not to worry when ___ — Я стараюсь не волноваться, когда ___

Now think about your own experience:

Have your interests changed in the last few years? How?

What activities did you enjoy in the past that you don’t enjoy now?

What new interests have you discovered recently?

Do you think changing interests is normal or worrying? Why?

How do you feel when you stop liking something you used to enjoy?

Do you prefer stability or change in your hobbies?

What helps you understand yourself better while growing up?

Do you think your future interests will be very different from now?

Here are some possible answers:

1. Have your interests changed in the last few years? How?

Yes, my interests have changed a lot. I used to focus mainly on entertainment, but now I am more interested in learning new skills and understanding how things work.

2. What activities did you enjoy in the past that you don’t enjoy now?

I used to spend a lot of time on certain games and videos, but now I don’t find them as interesting. My attention has shifted to other activities.

3. What new interests have you discovered recently?

Recently, I became more interested in reading and personal development. I also like learning about psychology and how people think.

4. Do you think changing interests is normal or worrying? Why?

I think it is normal because people change as they grow up. It shows that we are developing and discovering new things about ourselves.

5. How do you feel when you stop liking something you used to enjoy?

At first, I feel a bit nostalgic and confused. But later I accept that it is part of growing up and moving forward.

6. Do you prefer stability or change in your hobbies?

I prefer a mix of both. Stability gives comfort, but change brings new experiences and keeps life interesting.

7. What helps you understand yourself better while growing up?

Thinking about my experiences and trying new things helps me understand myself better. Talking to friends also gives me new perspectives.

8. Do you think your future interests will be very different from now?

Yes, I think my future interests will continue to change. As I grow, I will probably discover new things that I don’t know yet.

Complete the sentences:

I used to enjoy ___, but now I ___

Recently, I became interested in ___

It made me feel ___ when I stopped liking ___

I realized that ___

Growing up means ___

Handling failure

I still remember the day I thought I did everything right, but still failed. It was a school test I had studied for quite seriously. I revised the material, made notes, even asked a friend to explain one topic I didn’t fully understand. I went into the classroom feeling prepared… or at least I thought I was.

When I got the result back, I stared at the paper for a few seconds without moving. The mark was lower than I expected. Not a complete disaster, but enough to make my stomach drop. At first, I didn’t even want to show it to anyone. I just folded it and put it inside my notebook.

On the way home, my thoughts were loud. I kept replaying the test in my head, trying to find the exact moment where I went wrong. Maybe I misread a question. Maybe I didn’t manage my time well. Maybe I just wasn’t good enough. That last thought stayed longer than the others, even though I knew it wasn’t really fair.

At home, I didn’t talk much. I went straight to my room and sat there for a while, doing nothing. It’s strange how one result can affect your mood so strongly, even when it’s just a small part of your life. I kept thinking that maybe others are better at this than me, and I just don’t see it.

Later, my friend texted me and asked how I did. I didn’t want to answer at first, but eventually I told the truth. I expected some kind of judgment, but instead she replied, «It happens. What did you get wrong?» That question changed the direction of my thoughts a little.

Instead of focusing on the failure itself, I started looking at the details. Which questions did I lose points on? Was it knowledge, or was it pressure, or maybe just small mistakes? Slowly, the result became less like a label and more like information I could actually use.

The next day at school, I spoke to the teacher. I expected to feel embarrassed, but I actually felt more curious than anything else. She explained my mistakes calmly and showed me where I could improve. It wasn’t as scary as I imagined in my head.

I started to realize something important: failure doesn’t feel the same when you stop treating it like the end. It feels different when you see it as feedback instead of proof that you are not good enough. It still doesn’t feel nice, but it becomes useful.

After that, I tried something new. Instead of avoiding my mistakes, I wrote them down and focused on one small thing to improve. Not everything at once, just one step. And strangely, that made me feel more in control.

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