5 Exciting Ways to Discover your Passions

It’s that time of year! You’re applying to your dream university and you find yourself staring blankly at the question asking you to specify your intended major. Although you’re not too sure what you want to be when you grow up, there is one thing you’re certain of, you do not want to become one of the many who wake up dreading going to work each day. The big question is, what can you do now to ensure that you don’t face this issue in the future? Mark Twain couldn’t have said it better when he said “find a job you enjoy, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” It’s time to dig in on your passions! What do you enjoy?

Whether you’re deciding on a college major, or wondering how to spend your free time and meet friends, understanding your passions is an important skill to have in life. Read on for some of our top strategies for how to discover your passions!

1) Youscience

Youscience offers different types of brain games to help you better understand how your mind is wired! Not only that, but these games also assist with narrowing down your interests and uncovering your talents. Once your results are determined, you are provided with career options that fall within the realm of your results, the schooling requirements associated with those career options, and more! This assessment has a small fee of $49 but according to the user feedback, it’s worth it!

2) Futurescape

Futurescape is an interactive 11 question career survey! By answering the questions, the survey is able to determine your personality type and you are given six different definitions describing your personality traits. Based on your personalized traits, you are recommended a handful of topics to explore along with related jobs in each particular field. This survey is free of charge and is perfect for someone looking to explore degree or career options.

3) US News and World Report's College Major Quiz

US News and World Report's College Major Quiz might be for you if you’re struggling to decide on a college major! You start by answering multiple choice questions in regard to how you handle certain situations. Once complete, you are provided with a list of words that describe you as a person. From there, you will be prompted to register for a free account in order to view more detailed results. Once your account is created, you can click on each of your career results to view the recommended jobs along with the salaries and education required for each.

4) Conduct your own Informational Interview

Conduct your own Informational Interviews! What better way to discover the ins and outs of a job than speaking with someone who does it everyday? Start by asking your friends what their parents do or by asking your parents what their friends do! Once you hear of a job that sounds intriguing, it’s time to reach out to schedule a time to chat. You can shoot a quick email or text message to your person of interest asking if they’d be willing to schedule a phone call, zoom, or face-to-face meeting to discuss their career. Once scheduled, be sure to show up to the meeting prepared! Do some research on what their job entails and come with a list of questions to ask. We understand that this can feel uncomfortable, but it’s also a unique way to break out of your shell while also learning about your career options! If you’re really nervous, you can always practice by doing your first interview with one of your parents.

5) Pathfinders

Polygence’s Pathfinders program is another great way to help with identifying your passions!

Pathfinders is a career discovery experience designed to help students explore diverse career paths and gain more clarity about their future. Through personalized matching with three world-class mentors, students will gain invaluable insights into real-world possibilities. Ideal for students seeking direction and eager to uncover their passions, this program is the ultimate opportunity for exploration and growth.