"Find your passion" is terrible advice...do this instead
Want to hear some bad advice?
"Find your passion"
Adults hear this all the time as it pertains to their jobs.
High schoolers hear it all the time as it pertains to 'doing something to impress college admissions committees'
But guess what?
We at CC.us think this is terrible advice. And not only do I think it's terrible advice...we think it actually causes high schoolers far more stress, because they're constantly wondering 'Is this thing I'm spending time on what I'm REALLY passionate about? Or is the grass greener? Is there something I am MORE passionate about?"
Now, for those who have been following us for awhile, you might be saying "Hey wait a second! You always preach this whole 'Your Story' / Category 4 of Admissions / 'Different > Difficult' / 'Passion Project' thing! Isn't that all about what a student is passionate about?
And to that we would answer YES.
But the order is flipped.
Our students actually don't typically start with passion when we teach them to work on their 'Category 4 of Admissions'.
Instead they just start with something...then they put in the work. Then it BECOMES a passion.
Alex Hermozi says it best:
"People want to find their passion. But you don't find it, you create it. And you create it by getting good at something. And to get good at stuff, you start by doing something you suck at. Then you get good. Then you like it. Then, people ask how you found your passion. Answer: By starting when you sucked and not giving up."
...
"By starting when you sucked...and not giving up."
This, right here is the key.
Do you think Massimo started out being ultra-passionate about fixing dirt bikes in his garage?
Nope. He actually sucked at it first. Then he was average at it. Then he was good. Then he was exceptional. Once he was exceptional...he was certainly passionate. Because it's easy to be passionate about something you're exceptional at.
(Author's note: Massimo used this now-passion to get into his top choice school, Cornell, where he's now a freshman)
Do you think Emmy was ultra-passionate about designing new, innovative projects and going through the arduous patent process with them?
Nope. She probably started out not knowing the first thing about patents. But she stuck at it. For a long time. And now she's 'passionate' about this area because she's actually good at it now!
(Author's note: Emmy used this now-passion to get into her top-choice school, Notre Dame, where she'll be attending next year).
...
Stop stressing yourself out trying to find your one, perfect, ideal 'passion.'
Just try something.
Work at it.
Get better at it.
Get a lot better at it.
And you may just find one day you realize you are 'passionate' about it.
And if you put in a good amount of effort and still hate it?
Start over.
Try something else.
Work at it.
Is this easy?
Nope.
But getting into your dream school isn't meant to be easy. If it were easy, everyone would get into their dream school instead of a select few.
We want YOU to be in that select few.
To your college planning success,
Jack Delehey
Founder, CollegeConsulting.us
P.S. - Have a high-performing high schooler w/ a 3.7 GPA or higher? We'll help get them into at least one of their top 5 dream colleges...and if we don't get them into at least one of their top 5 dream colleges, you don't pay us a penny. Seriously. College admissions isn't rocket science...but it is a science. And we've cracked the code...year, after year, after year. You can learn more about our world renowned all-inclusive, start-to-finish college coaching here and to see if your family qualifies for an introductory call.
P.P.S - Our most common question is "When should we start?!" The answer is, if you truly care about giving your high schooler the best chance of college planning success, you should start NOW. 9th grade is not too early to start! 10th grade is certainly not too early to start! And 11th grade is far, far too late! (supporting data here to show just how much of an advantage you give your child by starting the process early).
