Riley Shin races towards creative goals
High school is often a journey of discovering one’s interests and possible careers. What someone wants as a freshman may be wildly different by the time they graduate as they explore different sports, clubs, or other interests.
For Riley Shin, junior, this year has been defined by a shift away from resume-building and toward purpose. “I dropped a few extracurriculars that were really soul crushing, to be honest.” Shin said.
Shin used to participate in political and policy-related activities, including a political office internship, but it no longer aligned with Shin’s goals. “I have a really political or policy-oriented resume,” Shin said. “It wasn’t for me, because I realized more than arguing about points with people, I just want to tell stories and find what connects us […] I could fall asleep talking about taxes.”
Shin’s shift from purely academics to appreciating creative outlets began with a conversation with her mom. “She said, ‘Riley, honey, you don’t have to worry about impressing me with anything. Just be happy,’” Shin said.
The summer after that exchange with her mother, Shin began to write a full length sci-fi manuscript while committing to a daily word count. “Every time someone asks me about my novel, I freeze up and I forget how to talk because I feel like the subject matter is so personal to me,” Shin said. Shin now plans to release the completed book independently. “I’m looking to self publish, just because traditional publishers probably won’t publish a minor,” Shin said.
Acting has also become a major focus for Shin as she uncovered her passion for storytelling. “Acting and writing are so intertwined with one another. If you’re good at one, it cross-pollinates into the other,” Shin said. She now hopes to major in acting in college and eventually obtain a Screen Actors Guild card.
Outside of acting and writing, Shin has also taken up running—an activity she says she had to learn to enjoy. “When I was in Pre-K, that was the first time I ever ran. And I thought I was dying,” Shin said. Over time, running became symbolic for Shin. “[Running] is proving to myself that I can get through the hard things because I really enjoy it, and the mental clarity afterwards is unlike anything else,” Shin said.
Though Shin has a new focus on creative outlets, she continues to push herself academically while working to complete the International Baccalaureate diploma. In doing so, Shin notes how she now prioritizes balance within her schedule. “Push yourself, obviously. But don’t die. Give yourself room to breathe,” Shin said.
For Shin, junior year is no longer about impressing others. It is about letting passion—not pressure—lead. “Seeing joy and happiness and personal fulfillment not as a secondary thing, but as the main thing, was life changing and transformative,” Shin said.
