Education & Opportunity

I recently received an e-mail from Joe, a reader of my column from Portland, who asked about what to do if your school doesn't offer the type of activity, program, or club that you're really interested in. I thought I'd post my response in case anyone else is in a similar situation.

First, a little about me: Some of the most rewarding experiences I had during my high school and college years were related to opportunities that I created for myself--whether it was my internship with a U.S. senator, a reporting job at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, or starting my own Homework Helpline telephone tutoring service. I also discovered how each opportunity I created for myself kept propelling me forward to even more exciting opportunities—in effect, creating a chain of life-changing events.

So what if your school doesn’t sponsor a particular program ? Try starting up your own club. What if you need guidance in a particular activity? Find a member of your community who can show you the ropes. What if you have a particular career interest that you’d like to explore? Then create your own internship or apprenticeship.

I know of one high school student who tracked down a Nobel Prize winner thousands of miles away and asked him to be her mentor. Guess what? He said yes! They would exchange e-mails every couple of weeks and he would offer her advice on her science research project.

So if you are unable to get an appointment with certain influential people you want to speak with, don’t just accept it. Instead, go to their office early in the morning, wait until they show up, and set an appointment in person. (I’ve had to do this. Believe me--it works!) If you are especially enjoying a subject in school, talk to the teacher or professor about how you can pursue it in more depth. In general, always go out of your way to talk to those who might be able to direct you toward intriguing future projects.