People with niche and interesting interests are everywhere. Many people open up about their interests and a person could have never guessed they were well versed in needle work, or skateboarding. The spirit of niche interests is all about giving people a space where they can show off what they like and what they do well. Even if it’s digital or physical, so many people can have niche interests.
“I have a lot of niche interests, most of them pertaining to gaming,” Christopher Kirkland (11) said. “I have a Nintendo Switch, and I wouldn’t call Nintendo’s main games anything sort of niche, but I started seeing what was on sale and I found a bunch of indie games … I play a lot of games like Coolmath Games and almost nobody does that anymore.”
Niche interests are usually interests that only a small set of people care for. They don’t have to be an interest that no one likes, or an interest that is unheard of, but something not usually seen on a day to day. Sometimes, niche interests can be seen as strange or even childish because a thing may be targeted towards a certain demographic, but despite that, a person may gravitate towards it. Such as Gabby Cain (11), and her fascination with Disney’s Mickey Mouse.
“I think [Mickey Mouse] has a childish aspect to it and when somebody does have something that is supposed to be outgrown, people don’t really talk about it a lot,” Cain said. “And plus, I think [what] makes it niche [is that] I’m not obsessed with Disney but it intrigues me.”
Cain had “Mickey everything,” growing up. It was never because of an obsession just something she had in her life. And many are exposed to the interest at a younger age like Cain and It gives them an outlet to express their creativity or need for a challenge. Victoria Jacobs (10) first got into beadwork and jewelry making during Covid-19 when she had extra time and took up a hobby.
“[It] started probably around fifth grade when my mom gave me beads and I had some wire laying around,” Jacobs said. “I started playing around with it and [tried] some designs I found in a book.”
Sometimes, an interest can isolate the person because not many share that interest. An interest can be niche enough that there is no one in the school or community that has the same interest. Although it can isolate the person, it can also just be a part of who the person is. Further, even if an interest is common, a person may be more passionate than others.
“I know some people who love Disney, but they really don’t collect,” Cain said. “I have a friend that collects anime characters but I haven’t really met anybody who, at least in my school, has that type of connection with [Mickey].”
Many factors can attract a person towards a niche interest. Either the payoff, a goal or that it’s a small interest to begin with. Having an interest that is unique and niche can show that a person may be cool or interesting because any kind of interest brings extra depth to people’s character. An interest can be a good conversation starter, and lead people to find like minded folk.
“ Ace Attorney is a sort of visual novel,” Kirkland said. . “The best way to describe it is like an old point-and-click mystery game where you play as a lawyer. You take on defense cases and it’s all wacky shenanigans with weird circumstances and funny names. I really like games that reward creativity and … going the extra mile to do something [off topic].”
Sometimes, putting aside norms and expectations to enjoy an interest can be the best thing a person can do. Interests should not be based upon what others think, only what makes that person happy and content with what they do. And, some niche interests can even make people come together to appreciate how different everyone is, and how amazing that can be.
“I think revisiting childhood shows should be appreciated.” Cain said. “It’s not weird, it’s not childish, sometimes you just need to revisit the old days to have a safe spot.”