FINDING HER PASSION

Dear Jellybean,

Lately I have been thinking about how I have no passion. I have been crying myself to sleep thinking about how if I don't find my passion, I wont have a reason to go to college, or my dream job, and all of that. I don't want to have my parents spend a lot of money on something that I won't even like. I don't know what I should do.
Sincerely,
Passion Hunter

Dear Passion Hunter,

Finding your passion - the career or vocation that gets you jumping out of bed in the morning, excited to start your day - is one of the most important things that a young person can do. Your question is a great one, and I'll do my best to help you get started in finding your path.

While some people, like Oprah Winfrey, say their passion was obvious since they were very young, most people have to do some work to identify their passion. This can take a certain amount of trial and error, so you have to be okay with that. You might have to try a few things, to see what you really love doing, and what you don't. This may mean spending a bit of money on lessons, classes, camps, whatever, that let you explore different activities and interests. This is all part of growing up and learning about yourself, and it's far from a waste of your parents' money. In fact, if it leads to you figuring out what you should spend your life doing, I'd say that's money incredibly well-spent.

To be open to your passion, you must allow yourself to be accepting of new experiences and ideas. Let your friends and family drag you to poetry readings, art exhibits, science fairs, antique shopping, wherever. You never know where your passion will make itself known, so keep an open mind. That includes being open to different types of people, not just sticking to your same-old crowd. Talk to kids who are different than you, with different interests in music, books, etc. You might be surprised by what you learn from people who are "different" than you.

Ask yourself what you've always wanted to try, but haven't done. Extra-curricular activities are a great - and inexpensive - way to try out different activities. Does acting seem like fun? Audition for a school play and find out if you've got what it takes. If you are involved in a production, and find you don't enjoy yourself, you can quit and try something else, with few consequences. Have you always wanted to be a photographer? Volunteer for the school newspaper or yearbook staff, and you'll learn the basics of being a camera pro, along with what it's like to work for a publication.

Also think about what you already love doing. Do you have a hobby, something that you could do for hours on end, but never considered it as a possibility for a career? Whether it’s reading comic books, collecting something, making something, creating or building, there is probably a way you could do it for a living. You could open a comic book shop, or create a comic book site online. If there’s already something you love doing, you’re ahead of the game. Now you just need to research the possibilities of making money from it.

Ask other people what they think you're good at. Ask your friends, "What can you see me doing in 10 years?" "What career do you think I'd be amazing at?"

Never quit trying. Don't give up if you can't find your passion after a few days or weeks. This is a big quest, and it can take a lot of time. Keep trying, and you’ll find it eventually. There may even be more than one passion in your lifetime, so explore all the possibilities.

Don't worry too much about figuring it all out before you go to college, either. For most people, the college experience is all part of the process of learning about themselves. Most people don't choose a major with the certainty that that's what they are "meant" to be doing. Instead, you take an educated "guess" at the right major, and then the real learning begins! What college is really about, besides studying for your main classes is, meeting new people, listening to new ideas, and growing as a person. The whole idea of "elective" classes (the extra classes you take, in addition to your major) is to allow students to be exposed to new ideas and learning, that could spark an interest in something they never even knew they would be fascinated by. Sometimes, it's that extra stuff that leads us to discovering our passion in life.