Hi!
You definitely don't need a dramatic hobby or life-changing side project for this question - "pursued" really just means something you've committed to, invested time in, or actively developed (even if it feels small to you!)
It makes sense to overthink this and assume it has to be something unusual or impressive, but Baker McKenzie mainly wants to understand who you are outside the academic / work bubble and what motivates you. I can definitely relate to what you are saying as before my final year of university, I didn't really have any 'hobbies' outside of uni or work, so I always struggled with these types of questions!
Some things that can count as "pursued" even if they don't feel big:
- A sustained personal interest (e.g. running, gym, creative writing, cooking, learning a language, etc.). In previous answers, I used to talk about reading which you can also use!
- Community involvement (e.g. volunteering, mentoring, supporting a cause)
- A self-driven goal (something that you personally wanted to work on - e.g. improving wellbeing, building confidence, a long-term travel plan, etc)
- A personal project (e.g. blog, podcast, content creation, tutoring)
The key is less about what it is and more about:
- Why you committed to it
- What you learned about yourself, and
- How it shaped your skills and mindset
If your life mainly revolves around work and uni (as mine did too!), that's totally normal - you can still frame something meaningful. Even regular habits can become strong answers if you articulate the development angle. For example:
- Cooking / baking: creativity, mindfulness, experimentation
- Reading non-fiction: curiosity and cultural awareness
- Gym: discipline, long-term goal setting
People might think they're 'boring', but everyone has something they consistently show up for - that's what counts as a pursuit!
I hope that helps to give you some ideas, and best of luck with the application!
