I love to read and occasionally write opinion pieces about things I feel strongly about such as mental health and problem sin the education system. How do I demonstrate these passions and interests?
Do you mean how do demonstrate to colleges that you do this?
You could:
-Join the debate team and debate about these issues
-Write essays for the school newspaper
-Join Model UN
-See if you can become a student member of the Board of Education
I think the thing to do is to figure out how share this info with your community.
As noted in your other post it is one thing to read and write about things that interest you. It is another thing, and a more powerful thing, to get out of your room and work in your school or community to try to make a positive change.
Research what opportunities exist in your school and in your community. A few examples (there are many other things you can do I’m sure)…if you like to write get involved in your local or school newspaper and write for them, see how you can get involved with the Board of Ed as a student, if you care about mental heath get involved volunteering with a hospital, a community organization, a mental health hotline or something like that.
“Passions” aren’t what gets a kid in. Delete it from your vocab and then take another look at your ECs.
As happy1 and other suggest, what you like to do and occasionally do aren’t tips. They’re looking for the quality of your awareness of opps and how you go for it. The challenges you take on. Not leaning back.
Passions take years to develop. It’s not just some hs things you randomly do. Not superficials like how many read a piece of writing or a local newspaper (or even national.) You “demonstrate” them through the level of engagement, over time. Increasing depth and breadth-- in ways that are meanngful to those adcoms at your targets.
What makes you qualified to write about mental health and the educ system? Seriously.
Liking to read can be impressive in hs. Some teachers appreciate it. But now you’re competing for a college spot. A big leap.