<p>I need some advice! I love and have always loved (for as long as i can remember) international relations and political science, which has recently centered around the Middle East. I definitely feel the passion, and i express it by participating in activities that i enjoy. i feel like this is what i should be doing. Yet i feel, to an outside observer, that my passion isnt "tangible" enough, that is to say, it doesnt really shine through.
THis is where i am right now: President of Model UN Club with regional awards, Member of Congress Debate Club and National Qualifier with regional awards, Wrote a paper on post-revolutionary Iran that a received a school award, Modern Middle East History Course, Speak conversational french, self teaching Arabic, Seeds of Peace Summer Camp with kids from the middle east (competitive application, designed to build relationships between kids from areas of conflict in the middle east with a small american delegation as well), Student Government, News Editor for the School Newspaper, Secretary of Student Democrats
These are all things i enjoy and love, and i can assure you im not forcing myself into doing any of them but rather i enjoy them and i know they are what i want to spend my time doing. I would gladly accept any advice as to what other activities i can do to truly demonstrate and explore my passion for Middle Eastern Diplomacy!!
(Im a sophomore, by the way)</p>
<p>“These are all things i enjoy and love, and i can assure you im not forcing myself into doing any of them but rather i enjoy them and i know they are what i want to spend my time doing.”</p>
<p>Then keep doing those things and don’t worry about justifying yourself to colleges.</p>
<p>It seems as if you are going in the right direction. Keep participating in the activities you enjoy. Colleges will definitely see your passion as pure if they see you aren’t just doing things to impress them.</p>
<p>Know that probably less than 20% of all high school students have any passion. And 2% can demonstrate the passion with the same intensity as you do. Keep up your work. You know better than we do.</p>
<p>(One advice is: share your knowledge and expertise with others. But you are already doing the advocacy thing, so don’t worry much.)</p>
<p>^
Yeah, but presumably the OP is trying to compete with other selective college applicants, not just “all high school students.”</p>
<p>@disguy
20%? Seems like a very liberal estimate to me. I would say that at maximum a few percent have a passion, and almost none can demonstrate it with any sort of intensity.</p>
<p>I have to note that the ways people define “passion” vary greatly. When I say “passion,” I mean something that you are certain you would do and enjoy for the span of your working life.</p>
<p>I think colleges want to see that you do things you care about. I don’t think they need to see that you have a passion at all. Even if you can demonstrate your passion, some might look at you and be skeptical; after all, what if you are only doing these activities to create a facade of passion for your college application?</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great feedback!!</p>