Finding Your Passion in College

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

"Passion". That's a word that you'll start to hear more frequently as you start your college life. From the point when you step foot in college, what you'll go through is a transition period that eventually leads to adulthood. This period is one of the most meaningful experiences in life because it prepares you for your future career. Still, in doing so, it simultaneously serves as an excellent opportunity for you to discover your passion.

First things first, what exactly is 'passion'? There are many definitions out there, but at the core of it, your passion is whatever you enjoy doing so much that it inspires the best in you. It's something you don't mind doing all day and all night, and that you never get tired from. Your passion is what you'd spend your life doing even if money wasn't an issue.

As a college student, you might struggle with the idea of 'finding your passion'. Some students feel a lot of pressure when it comes to this idea, and that is absolutely normal. Even some working adults tend to go through their lives without ever finding their passion.

This article is going to help you understand the journey of finding your passion while you're in college. This way, you'll understand what it's all about and be able to enjoy the journey without feeling pressured.

Why should I find my passion?

First things first, let's talk about the reasons why we need to try and find our passions in life. Why is it important, and why do people talk about it so much?

Well, one reason why it's important to find your passion is that it gives you a strong reason to keep learning and mastering your craft.

In your case, this might mean finding your passion within the automotive field. 

You might find that you have a passion for working on superbikes, for example. When you know what you're passionate about, then you'll naturally absorb more information, you'll keep learning, and you'll just keep getting better at it. Finding your passion leads you on a path to mastery and being the best at what you do in life.

What are my talents?

One good way to start thinking about your passion is first to find out what you're already good at. What talents do you have? What strengths do you have? What are you naturally good at, even when you don't try very hard?

Everyone has their own set of unique strengths. Some people are good with numbers and mathematics. Others are great with technology or helping people with their problems.

When you understand what you're good at and what you enjoy doing, that's the first step to finding out what you're passionate about in life!

What did I enjoy doing as a child?

For many people, our passions started becoming evident in our early years. When we were children, we had very few responsibilities in life. Therefore, we could focus primarily on doing things that made us happy. That's why kids always talk about all the great things they'll do when they grow up!

If you're studying in an automotive college, chances are you grew up playing with cars, motorcycles, and other motor vehicles. But ask yourself this: what exactly did you enjoy about that?

Maybe you enjoyed making them go really fast and racing them. Or perhaps you liked pretending that you were fixing or customizing cars.

All of these things that we used to love doing as kids are excellent indicators of where our passions are. Once in a while, take a trip back in time and think about all the things you loved doing when you were a kid.

What are your favourite school and college subjects?

There's another great place to look for hints about your passions: your classes. Think back to when you were in school, or even think about right now while you're in college. For most people, there are classes that they love and those that they don't. When we respond positively to specific subjects, that means that something that's being taught to us appeals to our deepest passions.

Do a bit of reflecting and thinking. Dig deeper and ask yourself why your favourite subjects appeal to you. There are no wrong or right answers here.

Get out of your comfort zone

Finding our passion is a journey, and sometimes that journey involves having to step out of our comfort zone. Instead of sticking to what we know, we need to try new things and evaluate if it makes us happy. In college, this could mean studying a new subject or joining a new club. It could also be as simple as learning about things in the automotive field that we've never heard before.

Sometimes, getting out of your comfort zone can be as simple as trying to learn a new language or studying a subject that has nothing to do with college. It doesn't have to cost you any money, either. You can explore so many subjects about the world on Youtube or Wikipedia.

Challenge yourself! You might come across things that you never knew you'd ever enjoy!

Remember: It's not a race, it's a marathon!

Here's the most important thing you need to know about finding your passion: it's a marathon, not a race. Relax! There's no need to rush. 

What that means is that some people find their passion early in life, while others take much longer. Both are equally valid.

You don't need to feel stressed at all about not finding your passion yet, because the timing is not the same for everyone.

The only thing you should focus on is enjoying the journey and making the most of it. The process of finding your passion is one of self-discovery where you'll learn about all the things that you like, as well as the things that you don't enjoy doing. Even if you haven't found your passion yet, the process itself will teach you a lot about yourself.

QUICK FACTS OF TOC AUTOMOTIVE COLLEGE

TOC offers various programmes and courses such as the Diploma in Automotive Technology, Diploma in Motorsport Technology, Diploma Kemahiran Malaysia, Superbike Technician Course, Master Technician Course, Automotive Customer Service, Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) Level 2 & 3 and other automotive short courses. There will be a new intake —check it out here!

We are one of the best automotive colleges in Malaysia that provides you with the education pathway you need to turn your dream into reality! Our diploma and certificate programme is structured to fit the needs of the industry by providing hands-on experience and solid theoretical knowledge.  

If you’d like to know more about the automotive industry or if you’re still unsure whether it would be a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to have a chat with our automotive course counsellors, who would be happy to help you out!