<p>As a 15-year-old freshman, it seems as if the constant advice of finding your passion and interest has finally sunk in for me, and now have I realized that I have no chance at Harvard. I have no idea where I want to head in life, my interest in school subjects is generic and the only thing I really enjoy is video games, though even this enjoyment is limited. I've been told many times that passion comes with progression in the High School years, but I fear it may be too late by the time I am too engrossed in my highly rigorous studies of the 11th and 12th grades. I need to find something that I really enjoy to the point when I will do anything to continue it, and I know that quality lies in me. I know I want to engage in something that changes the world, or at least the community around me. I know it's easier said than done, but whatever may spark this fanatic passion, I wish to go in the direction of it. The direction is unknown, which is why I hope to receive a map from you guys. Where should I go?</p>
<p>join a bunch of ECs and see what sticks. that’s how I (in part) found my passion. Become a superstar in the one (or two) that you end up choosing.</p>
<p>At this point in your HS career, you should basically be open to everything and anything.</p>
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If you’re spending more than an hour playing video games then you are sucking time away from discovering cool things in the real world that may interest you found in nature, books, on the playing field, writing, etc.</p>
<p>It’s a little early in your life to be having an existential crisis…</p>
<p>I know people will typically advise you to not join so many clubs, because then it looks like you are padding your resume.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, given that you are only a freshman and have not yet found that one thing that you are truly enthusiastic about, it is okay to join a bunch of clubs until you find one that “clicks” with you. You can’t expect to have a spiritual awakening that will magically grant you a passion; you have to actively seek it out. And it is completely okay. I did at least 10 random different activities my freshman year, trying to figure out what worked for me, and I got into Harvard!</p>
<p>Good luck! :)</p>
<p>The most highly selective schools are for kids who are remarkably focused and successful between the ages of 14-17. End of story. That’s all you can really say about them. That’s certainly a great start and not a bad thing alt all, but it is not typical and it does not describe all or most successful or happy adults. You can go downhill from age 17 or, more typically, you can level off and that is what happens to most selective school graduates. Most of them are not the world beaters they were in HS. Don’t beat yourself up because you haven’t found that spark yet, and congrats on being honest with yourself. By the way, a lot of comp sci people got their start figuring out how their favorite video game really worked.</p>
<p>Doubtful, you make a great point about “the most highly selective schools” measuring kids who are focused and successful from ages 14-17. It’s kind of on par with the line about the only thing the SAT measures is how well you take the SAT. </p>
<p>So much attention and stress gets placed on admission to these schools, and yet all that’s really being evaluated is what kids do during a short timeframe that overlaps with a period of significant emotional, intellectual, and physical change and development. </p>
<p>@collegeluva101 - I appreciate the discerning advice.
I did expect a “spiritual awakening”, which was wrong of me as I know that it can’t happen without taking the initiative to look for it. I’ve joined multiple clubs, Debate has sparked my interest, but as good as I may be at it in the future, I will need more than that to be a star. </p>
<p>@MikeNY5 - It’s a work in progress! I’m open to anything, but I can’t find the opportunities as my school is limited in ECs and I don’t have many of the essential resources to create my own.</p>
<p>@doubtful and @baltimoreguy - You guys are right. The only thing I lack is extracurricular activities, which is why I need the guidance. Other than that, I’m on track to be Val, great test scores, and a good-everything-else. The
“spark” I need ceases to exist, I just need suggestions to get there and as said before, I know I can get there.</p>
<p>Granted at 15 its too late to become a concert pianist, champion tennis player, or Eagle Scout - but there’s still plenty of time for you to do something entirely unique and interesting! Passion doesn’t necessarily come with progression through school, but often stems from some simple random act, like taking a chance and stretching to go out of your comfort zone. Maybe take a cooking class, learn fencing or juggling, try line dancing - anything to push you out of your comfort zone. </p>
<p>Realize that the typical ECs offered at any school are unlikely to spark passion or help you stand out from the rest of the students involved in those same activities. I’m not saying don’t do them, but be careful about not putting too much time and effort and losing the opportunity to create a path of your own to follow. </p>
<p>Also, don’t think whatever you find necessarily leads to some lifelong pursuit. It could just be a great project that you develop well enough to get you into college. Think of community service and then try to put a personal twist on it - are their underprivileged schools near you that you could find a way to help? Maybe there’s nursing homes/assisted living with elderly people who would enjoy getting set up on Facebook or tell you interesting stories from their past that you could collect and preserve somehow. Is there a local non-profit involved in some project that might strike your interest? </p>
<p>How would you like to change the world? What cause needs to be championed in your opinion? What kind of organizations are available locally that you can get involved in to educate yourself and others? </p>
<p>By the way, you write well and seem like an interesting person - does your school have a newspaper you could join? </p>
<p>Try everything you can and then choose the one you enjoy the most.</p>
<p>Read How to be a High School Superstar by Cal Newport. You’ll like it, I bet, and get the answers you’re seeking. </p>
<p>Ooh I liked that.</p>
<p>Good suggestion about Cal Newport.</p>
<p>The main thing is that you cannot really succeed in finding a “passion” when the reason you want to find the passion is so it will get you into college. Seriously.</p>
<p>You are a freshman so try not to even think about college for a couple of years. You cannot live for your resume. Try to enjoy high school in the present and choose things to do that you really enjoy, not things that will appeal to admissions. If you live “authentically” in that way, you will end up on the right path in the right place.</p>
<p>The idea that everyone has some grand passion is harmful and wrong. And it is not necessary in order to move on in life (or get into schools). Ironically, once you let go of that idea and the need to pursue it, you may actually start enjoying what you are doing and develop passion for it! But if you don’t it’s no big deal. Many of us have had great lives without a single encompassing “passion.” So relax!</p>