You must have heard people talking about “following your passion in life, taking up careers in something that you love doing, etc. These are buzzing statements we get to hear everywhere. But do you know, “following your passion” has become outdated! What’s in is a new statement - “Follow your curiosity and your curiosity might lead to your passion.”

That sounds so right! Humans are born curious, in fact, the inquisitiveness and the thirst to discover something new never leaves us. When we are curious, we tend to find lots of interesting things to do. And that’s where the journey to discovering your passion begins, and that’s exactly what you must follow.

And no wonder, this sounds so apt for students who are soon to transition into a whole new world. Children in the 12th grade sometimes feel a rollercoaster going in their minds, when it comes to the academic path they want to pursue after school. From the whole gamut of academic disciplines to the ever-increasing competition, everything tends to leave them confused and perplexed. What if I chose the wrong path? What if something else interests me later? How will I ever decide? These are not just normal questions, but sometimes leading to serious depressing situations among students.

So, the best solution is to – Follow your curiosity, keep discovering your interests, and your curiosity will lead you to your ultimate passion. But how exactly can you stay on this path? Here are some tips:

Start with the right perspective – Yes, you’re right, with patience and perseverance. Take time to work through the process, and know that you’re getting closer to where you want to be, and what you want to do in life. Hard work, commitment and persistence on your path, in whatever you are pursuing at the moment, is the key that will lead you to the door of discovering your passion.

Scan the landscape of your interests – Once you are determined on the path, look for the activities, the things that interest you, that you already love to do more than anything else. It can be reading, writing, music, dance, art, or even solving puzzles. Make a list. Scan through.

Time to look for an umbrella – When you have the list of interests that gather you, then it's time to look for an umbrella, where you can turn your interests into a career. Look for a course, degree, diploma, where your interest fits in.

Know the difference between a hobby and passion – There are chances that through this exploration, you might get engrossed into an activity or a number of activities that lights you up and makes you happy. Understand that passion isn’t just fun when you want to pursue it as a career – it changes from what you “love to do” to what you “have to do”. Not everything that you love to do can be your career.

Be realistic - Ask yourself questions like - If you pursue something that interests you, who would benefit from it and who would pay you for it? Can you make your passion ‘profitable’, in other words, can you turn it into a career? If yes, what do you need to do for it?

Find your way – Last but not the least, as students, you can start from selecting a course which includes the subjects that you are enthusiastic about or choose an industry that reflects your interests. As you grow, and become mature with life’s experiences, your career paths may take many twists and turns with your inclinations changing towards one thing or the other. Be firm and be determined to walk on your chosen path. Don’t stress yourself trying to anticipate the future. Be confident about what you want, instead of being affected by other’s opinions.

Be steady on the path where curiosity and exploration lead to discovering your passion, your calling, after all, as they say – “Curiosity is the Engine of Achievement.”