Opinion: Reach out, spark your passion

By Joanne Su Chan 
Staff Writer

ILLUSTRATION/ Safina Wu

Sparking an interest that’ll bring joy is something we are told to do early in life so we can find college majors and career options later on. Though it may seem far-fetched, discovering an interest is possible by trying new things.

Finding a passion can feel like a chore at the bottom of your to-do list. It can be something that you’ve been avoiding for the past week. Though it may be a detestable task, not having a passion leads to sinking in an endless pit. Some people floated their way through their lives during the pandemic, and even as we return to normal life, students are trying their hardest to stay afloat. 

Finding a passion should not be an extra burden; it should be something that just happens while you live and explore. While discovering what you enjoy doing, you can also meet new people along the way and become a part of a community you closely relate to. If you have a passion for math, joining a math club and testing different theorems might be the way to spend time with friends. If you enjoy speaking, seeking out a speech and debate club might be the way to go. TCHS offers more than 90 different clubs from engineering to dancing. There are different passions and interests that students can be involved in. The only question is, “How do I find that interest?”

The answer is trying new things, joining new clubs and checking out different sports. Remember that you don’t need commitment to spark passion and trying new things does not mean you have to stick with them for life. It means dipping your toes into a pool of different options where you might like some and not others.

You don’t need to know your passion from birth. A study done by Stanford University on Implicit Theories of Interest reminds us that passions and interests “simply must be discovered.” Experimenting with what sparks your passion is a part of discovering what you enjoy. Though it may be difficult, being bold with the decision to try new things is essential. Some people wonder why they haven’t found their passion because they have yet to throw themselves into the endless list of possibilities. Once they do, they may just find something that catches their eye.

Sitting at my desk and thinking about life made me realize how much more I could do. By joining different clubs, trying out for sports teams and throwing myself out into the community, I was able to find interests that have given me something to do in life. As difficult as it may be, spark an interest. You’ll never know what you might find if you don’t try.