Do High School Students Need a Focus?

One of the benefits of high school is that classes are offered in more than just the four core subjects. Students are exposed to a wider array of fields, specialties, and opportunities to explore their passions. There are advanced-level courses, clubs, and out-of-school activities built to encourage your child to grow both academically and personally. Students with a budding interest in science may find their curiosity is peaked by a chemistry class or a robotics workshop. Those with a love for writing may discover a whole new role on the school newspaper. There are countless paths upon which your student can find themselves. 

 

During this period, your child may develop a special interest or knack for a specific subject. Not every student will experience this draw to a particular class, but it is important to encourage high schoolers to pursue what interests them. High school is a great opportunity for students to develop a focus. This does not need to be a future major or a career path, just something that gives them direction for the years to come. This focus may guide their choice in extracurriculars, clubs, summer opportunities, internships, and other involvements. Overall, it should be something that gives them pride and helps motivate them in the classroom. 

 

An added bonus to developing a focus is that it can ease the college admissions process by providing students an academic interest, an identifier, a way to see themselves as an applicant. It gives them something to talk, explain, even brag about. It can also provide them with direction when it comes to picking out college classes. Students that don’t enter college with an interest, academic or otherwise, in mind may risk spending valuable years pursuing the wrong major or not settling on one in time. This can cause them to take longer to graduate, costing additional time and money. 

 

While a focus can help with college apps, this fact shouldn’t pressure students into forcing one to materialize. Odds are, one won’t appear overnight. It’s more likely that they develop a focus over time. It doesn’t have to be hyper-specific either. Students may generally gravitate towards the humanities or creative projects. Others may do best working with their hands or leading a group. Some high schoolers have multiple interests and there’s no clear frontrunner. 

 

Students without a focus should spend time trying to identify one. Even the beginnings of one. They’re not always obvious. Potential areas of interest include mathematics, foreign language, history, science, English, or even fine art. A student’s focus should speak to who they are, what their strengths are, and what they like to do. Have your student ask themselves: 

 

What classes do they enjoy? What extracurriculars? Why? 

 

What type of work are they most enthusiastic about? (Papers, labs, art projects)

 

Who are their role models? Professionally or otherwise? 

 

What jobs or professions are they curious about?

 

What do they want to do (besides earn money)? 

 

Most high school students don’t view the few classes they’ve taken as gateways to entire fields of study. The pressures and monotony of the school day may not have encouraged them to feel particularly passionate about any subject, even those that they perform well in. 

 

The average high schooler doesn’t necessarily have an obvious subject that they’re passionate about or one that they would single out in this way. Some do, but most don’t. The problem isn’t that they’re actually uninterested. It’s more that they aren’t seeing their interests in the context of the larger picture. Most may not think of their minor interests as a stepping stone to something else. They don’t consider a position on a club board or volunteer involvement as indicative of anything beyond that month or that year.

 

Help your child to expand their thought process and think critically about where the things they like (online videos, fashion, cars, sports teams, even social media) come from, how they get there, and what roles are involved in its creation. 

If your student likes watching medical dramas… 

If they enjoy listening to mystery podcasts… 

If your child has read every graphic novel… 

If they help organize student protests… 

It’s not always obvious, but with some brainstorming and research, all students will realize that they do in fact have interests. Not just hobbies and favorite musical artists. 

 

Encourage your student to figure out what they actually enjoy doing and then brainstorm about how to translate that into a focus. Students don't need to evolve into geniuses in their chosen field. They merely need to feel curious and motivated to continue their studies. Their focus should be something they want to spend time exploring. It may even be something your student can see themselves transforming it into a career (but it doesn’t have to be!).

 

Have them consider their life outside of school. What do they do in their free time? Think about what your student is drawn to. What do they do outside of homework and academic commitments? How might their interests (even the small ones) translate into an area of focus? 

 

For example:

If your student enjoys baking and experimenting in the kitchen, they may like chemistry. 

If your child spends time building a gaming computer, they might enjoy exploring engineering. Even high schoolers that watch too much Netflix may find themselves interested in screenwriting or filmmaking once they realize the two aren’t all that different. 

 

In brainstorming, think about how your student can explore their focus further while in high school. Are there opportunities for them to take classes or workshops during the summer? Can they intern with someone in that field? Does their school offer courses or clubs in that area? It may help to talk to other students, particularly older ones, about their discovery process and how they grew their interest into a proven focus.  

 

If you are interested in speaking with one of our Advisors about helping your student find a focus, you can schedule an introductory free consultation here.

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

Receive inside track information on college admissions process, High School and Middle School planning, general pre-college guidance, and be the first to know about our events and announcements.

 

For additional information and insights, check out our blog: 

Most Prestigious Summer Programs

Meaningful Summer Activities that Enhance College Applications

High School Extracurriculars Simplified

How to Help Your Teens Manage Their Time

When Students Should Quit Activities

How to choose colleges to apply to