Be Passionate

I spent all of my sophomore year searching for my passion. Every day I woke up and went to school, waiting for it to literally hit me in the face.

School has always put us students under the impression that we will be "successful" and happy later in life if we find our passion in a subject area and then pursue a career in that path. Sophomore year I became stressed out because I had no idea what my passion was. I see kids who are exceptionally intelligent in all academic areas and have the potential to be professionals in any subject they choose. I see lawyers, cops, nurses, and chemists every day. I see everyone as having a place in the world someday..but where does that leave me? Where will my place be? Day after day I sat in class, jaded, prosaic, uninterested, waiting...waiting....waiting to realize what my passion is.

I did not realize my passion until I was a Counselor In Training, or a C.I.T at the LifeSkills Conference in 2012. LifeSkills is a leadership conference that I attended in 2008, 2009, and 2011 as an attendee. I became a part of the Staff in 2012. The LifeSkills Conference Staff is a team of dedicated, inspiring, and energetic individuals who aim for that week, and the days beyond that, to create a better world through teaching the values of respect for self and others, responsibility for everything we think, feel, say, and do, engaging in healthy relationships, and physical and emotional safety. I did not realize until the drive home from the conference that Friday evening that I was made to do this work, at the conference and beyond. This is something I am engaged in, feel inspired, have a desire for more knowledge of, and am  passionate about...and (luckily) it didn't have to literally hit me in the face for me to realize it.

If there's one thing I learned on my quest for a passion in life, it is this: do not search for it. Do not stress over it or beat yourself up. The time will come for everyone where you know in your heart that you have found your purpose. When you do eventually discover your passion, it will be the most remarkable feeling ever.