So…What's Your Passion?
Creating apps, founding nonprofits and writing novels – passion projects have taken Miramonte by storm.
For those not in the middle or high school world, a passion project is a self-directed project students pursue because they’re genuinely interested in it, not for school or work.
Passion projects have become increasingly popular, especially as students look for ways to stand out in the college admissions process. But they’re more than just resume fillers: they’re ways to improve the world, express creativity, explore obsessions and solve problems.
Take Miramonte junior Ally Rogin, who created an app called Homeroom to help students stay organized with school work and stay focused. Rogin was inspired by her own freshmen organization struggles to try to help other students struggling with organization.
“In freshman year, I was constantly forgetting to do assignments and struggling to stay focused and plan out my study schedules,” Rogin said. “I wanted to create an app with all the features that could benefit me and other students because I think a lot of students struggle with the same things I do.”
Homeroom, which is entirely free, features a task manager, habit tracker and Pomodoro focus timer. Rogin described creating the app as “fun and interesting,” citing her favorite memories: testing the app, showing it to loved ones and seeing it on the app store. Plus Rogin’s project mirrors her future major, computer science.
Unlike Rogin’s solo effort, junior Noor Johl co-founded the non-profit SafeStart Health Organization with high schoolers in Southern California and New Hampshire. Through chapters and workshops, they aim to educate kids on health and first aid, particularly in underserved communities.
“My favorite memory of this project was presenting online to a school in the Philippines about first aid,” Johl said. “It was eye-opening to … educate these kids on how to take care of themselves and others.”
The project reflects Johl’s dreams of working in healthcare and giving back.
“Volunteering has always been a huge part of my upbringing,” Johl said. “Our future plans consist of partnering with groups that actually go in person to certain areas in the world to provide direct patient care.”
When driven by a genuine passion or interest, passion projects are incredibly fulfilling, exciting and motivating.
Just ask my younger brother, Tanner, who I’ve forced to listen to me excitedly yammer on for hours about the passion project I founded, Youth In Bloom.
We have 35 chapters and 80 volunteers who lead eco-projects, like environmental lessons, virtual workshops and recycling initiatives in their respective six nations.
For example, this Saturday, a Filipino chapter is teaching a lesson on palm oil to refugees. I’d say to ask me if you want more information, but you’ve been warned: if you were to ask Tanner, he’d probably scare you into not asking because he’s witnessed firsthand how I lose all sense of time gushing about it.
Countless teens start passion projects. The best ones – the ones that last beyond high school – are the ones that aren’t about college or resumes, but about creating something you’re proud of. To any teens reading: You never know what you’re capable of until you start.
You’d be amazed by how much good you can create.
