There are so many things in this world to be involved with and to love. Out of all these interests, teachers and students often choose the weirdest things to obsess about. Star Wars? Pigs? Duck calls? Hockey? Music artists? Well, not all these things are weird, and some of these interests are more like hobbies, “a healthy hobby,” as Mr Christensen put it. But devoting a huge amount of time to them, that’s borderline obsession.

One teacher who shows a love for their obsession is Mr. Christensen, who loves anything related to Star Wars. If you ask him, “It’s a modern American icon that a lot of people can find appealing in their daily lives.”  He and many of his friends are in the same boat with making costumes and living the Star Wars life; so calling him weird is out of the question.

Another point he wanted to make is that his friends are the ones who got him into costume making.  He’s made three Star Wars costumes, a Darth Vader, a storm trooper, and a wookie. All of them were handmade, taking hours of hard work and determination. With the costumes he goes to conventions, such as Comic Con, in addition to charity events. He hopes to go to next year’s Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, Florida.

Participating in charities  and conventions creates amazing memories for him.  For example, the time when he got out of a plane decked out in his storm trooper outfit following his leader Darth Vader was fun. Or another time is when he took pictures with famous actors and singers like Gene Simmions and Peter Mayhew. These are fun times for Mr. Christensen.

Another teacher that is know for her “healthy hobby” is Mrs. McCullough. She’s in love with pigs.  She got into pigs at a young age because of Miss Piggy, who appeared on The Muppets tv show that she watched as a young girl.  According to Mrs. McCullough, Miss Piggy is glamorous, witty, and funny. She was The Muppet show.

McCullough thinks pigs are cute and unique.  She has over 100 kinds of pig trinkets from statues, jewelry, measuring cups, and much more.  Her obsession grew so much that she has a cabinet dedicated to her piggies, an entire corner in her classroom for pigs given to her from students, and she says she even has a pig in every room of her house.

Her students and friends do find it a little odd, but they get use to seeing pigs and as she put it, “They always come around and see the creatures through my eyes.”  Sometime during the school year, she says some of her students share a picture, video, or story about a pig, always commenting that the animal made them think of her.

Students seem to have more of the “normal” hobbies. One anonymous student is a huge hockey fan. Looking at her you wouldn’t expect it but get her talking about hockey and she never stops. She can give you plays of all her favorite players and talk about their goals, hits, lost teeth, broken bones, team victories, and drafts.

Unlike the teachers, this student doesn’t really know why hockey brings her so much joy. When asked, she said it probably has to do with her father driving around hockey players, so she’s been around them most of her life. Another reason why she might like hockey so much is her mother hates hockey, giving her that edge of rebellion against her mother.

Another student that is known for his passion is David Flores, or as he likes to be known as “David Mars.” He is in love with Bruno Mars.

When asked why Bruno Mars he can’t explain it other than Mars being an amazing, great singer, who has a great sense of style. The only downside, according to David, is the singer’s taste in women.

Flores wasn’t always a fan; the album that got him interested in Mars was Unorthodox Jukebox, and then the love for him grew. From having posters to having them laminated to slapping his sister when she ruins them.

He wants nothing more then attend a concert to meet him, make an album with him, wear his hats, and also play piano with him.

Individuals have different obsessions for a variety of reasons. These passions make people unique and fascinating in their own way. Who are we to judge what they are and how they got them. I mean, what’s your obsession?