If you’re a graduating high school senior, then you have much to be grateful for. You have completed your four years, made great friendships, and learned about yourself.
And if you are on your way to college, I have some advice for you: identify your passion, learn how to monetize it, and be open to learning for the rest of your life.
Find your passion
Some high school students are lucky enough to have already found their passion.
But my experience in dealing with high school students is that many are just following the path of least resistance.
Society and their parents have told them about the importance of higher education. This is quite true.
But many high school seniors head into college with a lack of awareness of their own likes and dislikes.
Instead of going into college without aim, find your passion.
What areas of knowledge excite you?
What would you spend your time doing or learning about without noticing the duration of that activity?
Find your passion early and use your college experience to cultivate it.
Learn to monetize your passion
Money isn’t everything, but it is a necessity of life.
A love of ancient Greek literature is a glorious thing, but can that earn you a living?
If you are going to college and are spending good money for higher education, then it is imperative that you find a way to translate your passion and learning of that passion into a sustainable career path.
You can always have multiple interests, but if you are looking to complete a degree, then it is important to have a degree in an area that will offer you future employment or business opportunities.
Sustaining life long learning
Hopefully, your high school education instilled within you a love for learning. This process never ends as we are always reading new material, learning new things, and making informed opinions based on new information.
If you enter college with this wonderful attitude of life long learning, then the many intellectual challenges you will face will not be insurmountable.
Understand that having this attitude will keep your mind sharp and your opportunities plentiful.
Recap – Find your fire, monetize it, and always learn
By finding your passion, translating it to a financially sustainable path, and always learning you will leapfrog into your college career and beyond.
Congratulations on your graduation and best of luck for a successful and fulfilling future.