<p>I don’t think real intellectual passion is something you can manufacture. I don’t think that most high schools encourage it- nor do most parents. Intellectual passion is the desire to LEARN something for the sake of learning it- just because you have the need to know… it doesn’t matter what it is. I believe that you can have passion for sports, for hosting parties, for making money but those aren’t intellectual passion. Sadly I think that the world we have created just zaps the life out of most kids with a passion for anything. We make it all about awards, or being the absolute best, or practicing your sport 24/7. I hate that loving to do something isn’t enough these days for you kids- there is always the demand for “award” or the “grade”. I tried to raise my kids without that pressure- but it didn’t last for long. Oh well- maybe you kids can fix that when you are parents!! Surely this generation failed.</p>