Allyson Chan
The word ‘collector’ brings to mind an image of someone who collects stamps and amasses books full of stamps from all over the world. However, whether it be rocks, Pokémon cards, marbles or stamps, collecting can provide people with a valuable opportunity to explore new interests and passions, and acts as a physical manifestation of valuable memories.
Collecting can often serve as a way to spice up one’s routine. Some collections that require heavy maintenance draw more passion from the respective collector.
“I collect various types of plants, primarily succulents,” said sophomore Adam Richter. “I collect them because I think they’re very interesting and they’ve always looked nice in my room … I like adding new plants to my collection and making it a part of my routine to water and take care of them. It’s a relaxing part of my day.”
“I like adding new plants to my collection and making it a part of my routine to water and take care of them”
Even collectors who don’t actively maintain their collections can find excitement in adding to their collections. Sophomore Colby Bruckner enjoys collecting spoons from frozen yogurt and ice cream shops.
“I consider this as more of a hobby,” Bruckner said. “I don’t go out of my way to get them.”
He describes what got him into collecting spoons.
“I collect this item because a lot of the different places have unique designs on their spoons,” Bruckner said. “I see collecting as a way to not only have something enjoyable to do but also as a way to have new experiences and go to new places.”
Many collectors on campus also pursue their hobby out of appreciation for the object itself. This can especially be the case when the items collected are handcrafted or artisanal.
“I collect mostly art-related things, specifically mangas and Pokémon cards,” said sophomore Giovanni Rodriguez-Miranda. “I find them quite nice to look at, especially since most of these are related to art and have a lot of complex … designs on them.”
“Every year, I go to the fair at the Japanese Art Mall in San Francisco … Whenever I’m there, I go to Kinokuniya [to] buy manga … it’s a fun tradition I always look forward to”
Miranda also emphasizes the importance of adding a routine to his collection.
“Every year, I go to the fair at the Japanese Art Mall in San Francisco,” Miranda said, “Whenever I’m there, I go to Kinokuniya [to] buy manga. I’ve been doing this for several years now, and it’s a fun tradition I always look forward to.”
For many collectors, maintaining a collection also allows them to build on any existing hobbies.
“I collect postcards from places I travel [to], souvenirs and other mementos from older students and language books and materials,” said Spanish teacher Ben Ho. “About ten years ago I had a pretty small collection of Western European language books, and since then it’s really grown. I have a collection of a couple hundred language books, spanning 50 to 60 languages.”
Collections often grow in sentimental value over time.
“For me, [collecting] is a way for me to reflect upon different memories and experiences throughout my life,” Ho said. “Things connected to people that I’ve known, like the senior portraits and [my students’] college pennants have a lot of sentimental value.”
For Miranda, his experiences with his family drive him to build on his collection.
“For Pokémon cards, they hold a lot of value because … they remind me of a few years ago when I started collecting,” Miranda said. “Other cards are more sentimental because I got them from family members.”
Bruckner also cites his family’s influence as a reason for collecting unique spoons, though for a different reason.
“My brother already had a cool spoon when I got my first one and that really motivated me to get more than him,” Bruckner said.
Collections not only provide their owners sentimental value but also a way to remember their past experiences. Though the appeal of the object may at first seem foreign, its significance lies not just in the object itself, but in the stories tied to them.
