What are you TRULY passionate about?

[JR_StudyEd]

I'm really interested to know how other people would go about trying to answer this question, or even if any of you have even discovered your passion yet. Since this is a primarily academic forum, I will start by saying that at this point in my life, I am not studying what I think am truly passionate about (as yet). Psychology was my most favourite subject to study, so I guess my answer to my own question is that it is the knowledge of psychology. The intricacies of the brain and mental processes are simply amazing, and very little is known about them, but it's so important to human life!

But like, there's so many facets of this that can be explored. What does 'being passionate' about something mean to you? Is it lifelong? Does school and uni get in the way of us truly discovering our passion in life? Or do these academic institutions actually help bring us closer to finding out our passion?

[Mkiryo]

That is a question I ask myself allllll the time. The truth is I don't know!
This year, I've discovered that I love chemistry. I've always liked science but I just could never pinpoint what exactly I liked but chemistry hit the nail on the head.
It's scary not knowing what you're truly passionate about though especially in high school where really important life decisions need to be made based on that.
But I guess it's also nice not knowing. That way you are not restricted to anything and more opportunities are open for you to explore.

[Bri MT]

There are three things that come to mind depending on how it's defined:
I have always wanted to study the oceans and be a marine biologist so many would say that's my passion.
What I care most about is following my core values (empathy and determination)
What gives me energy is learning, seeing the progress I've made, helping others, and being in nature.


For me, school and uni have helped me find my passions & I believe mine are lifelong but this could easily be different for others

[vox nihili]

-Educational disadvantage
-Transparency in organisations/governments etc
-Evidence based medicine
-Languages
-Footy

[Ionic Doc]

- stopping ( trying ) to end poverty
- education for all, especially for children severely disadvantaged
- climate change
- animal rights 
- human rights
- human wellbeing
- tennis
- gettin that 90+ ATAR

[whys]

Working towards the seemingly impossible goal of equality.
Equality - as in between gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, income, poverty, access to healthcare, education, food, water, electricity and the treatment of animals. I think equality can be a very broad term that can refer to almost anything.

As of things I like to do rather than things I like to advocate for... definitely drawing, painting and animating.

[homeworkisapotato]

Beyond myself my biggest passion is equality just like whys and if I had a chance to I would definitely go above and beyond to fight for the wellbeing for others and fight for equality.
However it is deemed impossible by society to get ultimate equality so I will do what I can and follow my childhood dreams to be a doctor and fight with all I can.

but a passion like a hobby? It's definitely playing the piano and reading/ analysing texts

[caffinatedloz]

I think that whys quote sums what I think about this topic up perfectly.

"𝘉𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦."

I think that for me, I have lifelong passions, but also smaller passions and shorter passions. I have forgotten passions and rediscovered passions as well as passions that I'm sure will unearth themselves in later years. For me, a passion is anything that excites me, addicts me and makes me spend my every waking moment thinking about it. In other words, things that set my soul on fire.

As to whether school has helped me to discover passions or squander them, well it's hard to answer. Rarely has anything academic ever lit a fire in me so large I felt as though my soul would explode if I didn't let it out, but many of the opportunities that I've had through school and many of the experiences that I've had during my time in education have lead me to what I love.