The Lesson of Passion by Jeffrey

The Lesson of Passion by Jeffrey - July 2014 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my entire high school career, I constantly stressed out about what college and major I should choose. I wasn't particular interested in any subject at school and I was always told that college was just a more difficult version of high school. I wanted to major in something I was passionate about, but the only passion I had was to play professional soccer. I ended up going to college for soccer but majored in engineering and enjoyed every day of it. When I tell people this, many ask how I was able to choose the "right" major. I have always responded with the same advice that my calculus teacher gave me my senior year of high school:

"There is no right or wrong path for you to take. The right path is one filled with passion, but people always try to make it seem like passion is something you are born with. The truth is passion can be developed, but it takes discipline and child like curiosity. It is something that the current education system almost beats out of the youth today. Passion is the desire to learn or grow, and how good an individual thinks they are. People tend to lose the desire to learn or grow because what they are doing doesn't possess any meaning to them, and people don't think they are good because they compare themselves to those who are extremely successful. Passionate people find something that makes whatever they are doing meaningful to them, and then they believe they are great or at least capable of being great. Once you become a passionate person the world becomes a passionate place." -Mr. Brooks

Mr. Brooks changed how I saw the world, and I can only hope that his message will change the way you see yours. You may think it is rubbish, but is it at least worth the attempt? Is it possible to become a passionate person and live a passionate life? Don't take my word for it, find out for yourself!