McCallum is known for its creative and unique people, and this sentiment applies to more than just the Fine Arts Academy and athletics. While the school offers lots of extracurriculars like football and band, some students choose to go down a different path, participating in hobbies that aren’t sponsored at McCallum, such as fencing, bouldering and fiddling.

There are only two sabre (specific modern fencing weapon) clubs in Austin, and sophomore Gabi Alfarache is a member of one of them. She’s been fencing for six years, starting the November after the 2016 Rio Olympics, the first place she saw the sport.

“The coolest part about fencing is definitely the travel,” Alfarache said. “I have the opportunity to see so many places and meet so many people.”

The furthest she’s traveled so far has been New York City, but Alfarache is currently trying to qualify for a bigger tournament, which would allow her to go on her first overseas trip with the sport.

“I’m hoping to qualify for a cadet [13- to 17-year-olds] World Cup in León, France.”

With 20 hours of practice a week, fencing is no joke, but for those really passionate, she highly recommends it.

“I would definitely recommend fencing to anybody who’s even remotely interested,” Alfarache said. “It truly is unlike anything else out there. It’s a really unique experience, and I think everyone should try it at least once in their life.”

Senior Max Hoff has been bouldering for a year, a hobby that was inspired during the pandemic after a family outing and is now something he plans to do forever.

“My favorite thing about it is the problem solving,” Hoff said. “You have to scale this big rock then figure out how to navigate it.”

A regular attendee of Austin Bouldering Project, Hoff has the opportunity to climb walls about as tall as the school portables.

“I go with my friends probably about four times a week.” Hoff said, “It’s just for fun but I have certain routes/locations that I’d like to climb at. For example, there’s this route in Yosemite with a few different boulder problems I’d like to try.”

The availability of day passes at ABP is just one bonus that comes with the skill-building that bouldering promotes. Hoff would recommend making a day out of it to anyone who’s interested.

When Georgia Halverson’s mom signed her up for violin lessons, Georgia was only 4 years old. Still, she knew it would become a lifelong hobby.

“Most people in the fiddle community started playing when they were my age or younger, and still play in their adult life, so I plan on following in their footsteps.”

Contrary to popular belief, Irish and other similar styles of fiddle are bigger here in Austin, while Texas-style isn’t. Halverson plays the latter, and while she doesn’t prefer one over the other, Texas-style lends itself to more opportunities for events. With contests and jams every couple of months, she travels often, going places like Greenville, Texas.

“The coolest part about fiddling is the community of people and the jams that you get to go to,” Halverson said.

Having an unusual hobby can make you stand out, and for Alfarache, Hoff and Halverson, that’s a good thing.

“[Fencing] gives people something to remember me by… when people I know hear about fencing, they think of me,” Alfarache said.

Halverson agreed, saying it also helps differentiate school and home life.

“I enjoy having a unique extracurricular that’s separate from what I do at school,” Halverson said.