<p>I still have time to add a sport if I really need to, but right now I only do one sport. I see people who do swimming, field hockey, gymnastics, jazz, etc. and then I feel really unaccomplished with only one sport that I haven't even been participating in for that long. It's super hard for me to keep up with so many sports, because I won't have any time to breathe. I have severe asthma that makes alot of sports difficult (don't ask me why I choose lacrosse as my sport).
I like drawing, but I'll never win a contest. I like acting, but most shows involve singing (I'm sure you know what I'm talking about). I want to be super good at something besides academics to have a "hook", but can't it be something else? Can you show the AO's that you have a passion for something, but haven't won any awards for? At what point does academics become a "hook"?
I have time to start doing whatever I want to without closing in on doing everything on my EC's for only a year. What does everyone recommend?</p>
<p>Don’t stress. A passion is an interest. If you enjoy something so much, then I guess you could consider it a passion. Not everybody has a hook. You get in based on your ability not your recent trip to Central America helping grief-stricken orphans (Although it could help!). Schools look for nice, well rounded kids. A hook is just a boost-up. Your not applying this year (from what I’ve seen on other posts), so you have plenty of time to find something that interests you.</p>
<p>@overandover: The best advice I can give you is - BE YOURSELF! Don’t join a sport or a club or volunteer for something just because you think it will make you “look good” to a school.</p>
<p>Ask yourself: What do I like to do? When I have free time, how do I like to spend it? What brings me joy?</p>
<p>You say you are good at academics - which areas? Develop YOUR interests! </p>
<p>If you like to write: join the school paper or literary magazine, write letters-to-the-editor for the local or national papers, enter teen writing contests or write for publications that accept writing from teens (google “teen writing contest” for starters).</p>
<p>If you like science or math: join a math club, learn to play chess and help start a chess club at an elementary school, help mentor elementary kids by helping classroom teachers with a science fair, join a Lego League or VEX Robotics team, volunteer at a local science museum or nature conservancy or wild bird rescue center.</p>
<p>If you like history: go to the local senior center and interview seniors about their experiences during WWII, or the Korean War, or the Vietnam War - then write an article about what you’ve learned. Volunteer at a local history museum. Get involved with a military re-enactment group.</p>
<p>These are just a few ideas to get you started. If you ask yourself “what do I like to do?” and your answer is - I’m not really passionate about anything! - then you should consider trying some new things, and seeing if your interest in those areas grows. Some people know from a very young age what they feel they’re meant to do - most of us figure it out by trying many things, and eventually finding something we love to do - finding our “joy.”</p>
<p>Best of luck to you - you have an amazing journey ahead of you (your life!) - enjoy each step!</p>
<p>Thank you both for you responses! Now I’m looking into all different things I can do in my community to develop passions for new things.</p>
<p>mountainhiker thanks a lot for your post. That really helped</p>
<p>bump (tenchar)</p>
<p>You are welcome. </p>
<p>I think it’s easy to get wrapped up in “to get into college X, I have to do these exact things.” That is absolutely not true. And besides, at age 13 or 14, it’s pretty tough to know what college is going to be the best “fit” for you anyway! </p>
<p>Now is the time in your life to explore, learn, try different things, and begin to find out what you like to do and the kind of person you’d like to become. </p>
<p>I can recommend a book written for teens called “Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations” by Alex and Brett Harris. It’s written from a very strong Christian worldview, but my son (who has a very different worldview!) enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. </p>
<p>Keep us posted on what you decide to try for the first time, new areas you choose to explore, and what you find out in the process.</p>