Passion: The Key to Success – A Lesson from My Past

Dear reader, I’d like to share a tale from my youth, a story that taught me the importance of passion in our lives. It’s a lesson I’ve carried with me throughout my years, and I hope it serves you as well as it has served me.

The Exam

It was the spring of 1965, and I was preparing for my final exams at university. One particular subject had always been a thorn in my side – Advanced Calculus. Despite my best efforts, the concepts seemed as foreign as a distant galaxy.

With the exam looming, I found myself buried in textbooks, my mind swirling with equations and formulas. I was determined to pass, but the more I studied, the more I struggled.

The Turning Point

One day, my professor noticed my struggle. He was a wise man, not unlike a sage from an old tale. He pulled me aside and asked, “Kev, do you love what you’re doing?”

I was taken aback. Love? I was so focused on passing the exam that I hadn’t considered whether I actually enjoyed the subject. I admitted that I didn’t. I was studying it because I thought I had to, not because I wanted to.

My professor smiled and said, “Kev, passion is the key to success. If you love what you’re doing, it won’t feel like work. It’ll become a part of you. And that’s when you truly excel.”

The Lesson

His words struck a chord within me. I realized that I had been so focused on the end goal that I had lost sight of the journey. I had been studying for the sake of passing an exam, not for the love of learning.

From that day forward, I shifted my focus. I pursued subjects that ignited a spark within me, subjects that I was truly passionate about. And you know what? I didn’t just pass my exams, I excelled in them.