<p>Throughout high school I’ve mostly just been flowing along.
Sure, i’ve been a good student-Joined A club or two-But I haven’t done anything EXTRAordinary.
But then In 10th grade english We did a creative writing project and I made a story.
It wasn’t much at the time mind you but it was something. Later on in the year I started thinking more about the story I made in english. I thought about its world and such and the characters.
By my junior year it turned into a fully grown world rich with characters, story and imagination. I also wasn’t an avid reader until my sophomore year in high school. Then I realized that I wanted to become a writer. I started writing more and reading more, I began reading more poetry and discovered that I love poetry. I had some personal problems junior year which halted my writing progress, but I want to write my stories. I want the world to experience what goes on in my mind. I want to express my joy of writing.</p>
<p>I learned that writing isn’t a meal ticket, it isn’t a job either. Writing is really like your sibling or child or your best friend. You write when you’re sad, happy, angry; you write when you don’t want to because writing is an extension of your soul. You put everything into it because it is essentially you. This is when I realized that I don’t care if writing makes me famous or rich or if I end up poor. I just want to write because it nourishes my life.</p>
<p>Short question:</p>
<p>Would finding your passion, albeit later on, make up for the lack of interest in the years beforehand?</p>
<p>It would if you had tangible proof that you were doing things with your passion. Are you winning writing contests? Getting published? Working on/submitting to/editing your school’s literary magazine? Taking creative writing classes at your local college? Doing a summer program related to your writing?</p>
<p>Make sure that your passion translates into activities that you can have actual proof of. Lots of people are able to say that they write in their free time, but if you can distinguish yourself, you’ll be in much better shape. :)</p>
<p>Is it something that’s official? And yes, but honestly, if you’re aiming for Columbia, you’re really going to want to do as much as you can. </p>
<p>Some context:
I am accepted class of '15 to Columbia College at Columbia University. My interests were writing and political science. For writing, I was chosen as one of two people out of 2,000 and had a local NPO use a grant to have me co-write a children’s book that was then professionally illustrated. I also had a paid internship with a small book marketing business and was an editor/contributor for my school’s literary magazine. The summer before my junior year, I applied to and was accepted at a creative writing summer program that I received college credit for. Finally, I placed in a local essay contest.</p>
<p>Not to say that what I’m doing is what you should be doing (by any means–I’m still shocked that I got in), but from what I’ve seen, schools as selective as Columbia like to see that you’re taking your interests and using them to make a noticeable mark on the world. The more you can do that, the better off you are.</p>
<p>madogmgd, I think that you have a story to tell. Some people do not discover their passion until they are an adult…so go for it! However, I do agree with Nonsensical-try to become involved in activities that foster your writing. Being involved in a student hand guide is a start, but it doesn’t really show your passion for creative writing. Try submitting your pieces to publications that are meant specifically for young writers. However, do not be discouraged. You should write your personal statement from your heart and that will go a long way. There are so many students who have ten-page resumes, but often times it comes off as insincere–almost as if all their accomplishments were just to get accepted to a specific university. Be sincere and be passionate and it will set you apart!</p>