How to pass exams – Part 6 – Discover your passion in the adventure

“Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion”
Martha Graham, choreographer & dancer (1894 – 1991)

In his research Richard St. John found out that successful people are simply passionate about what they do. Amazingly, even the people who were financially successful often said ‘I would do this for love and not for money. ’ Woah! Hang on? I would do this for LOVE and not for money!’ Don’t people just do things for money?

I meet people in school all the time who want to be in a high paid job for that reason only, yet all the research shows that if money is your motivation the novelty wears off very quickly and you will soon hate your job. I meet loads of well-paid but miserable people – strange but true! Successful people are happy when they follow their passions, that’s what keeps them going long term. So, here’s a biggy…what are you passionate about? What is the subject at school/college that you are passionate about? What is it you really love to do? What is it you do where time passes really quickly?

When I was your age I was a hip hop scratch DJ and in a band. I spent nearly all my time DJing, recording and learning new DJ skills. When I was pulling together a mix time would just fly by, like it does now when I am speaking or writing. So for me at that time my hobby turned into my life.

What subject at school does time seem to pass really quickly? What do you get the best grades in? What are you passionate about?

[ Based on years of research you can read more about Lee’s work at http://leejackson.org/education/howtoenjoyandsucceedatschoolandcollege – How to pass exams ]  

Once you recognise what you are passionate about let that passion rub off into other parts of your school life, even if you only really like one lesson a day that can make all the difference. One positive hour can make your day fly by, even if that’s break time with your mates, add up five of them and you’ve had a much better week and before you know it you’ve had a better year! And yes, better results and more fun into the bargain. School can be fun, not always, but sometimes. I think it should be fun, what do you think?

When I was a youth worker I always put in my diary a couple of things a week that I would really enjoy. For me it was basketball practice. Those two practices a week helped the rest of the week go much easier. Even the boring bits went quicker. Those basketball practices were like pegs to “hang my week on”. Use your passions to fire up your school/college life.

Do you think Steve Jobs hates Apple Macs, David Beckham hates football or Kylie hates music? Of course not, they have found their passion, that’s what has helped them achieve.
More to come…

This an excerpt from Top UK School Speaker Lee Jackson’s book “How To Enjoy And Succeed At School And College” Available in paperback and on Kindle (for only £1.99 during pre-exam time) here now.