If you’re still early in your high school career, here’s a great way to stand out—master a skill and then share it.
Start by learning how to do something really well—produce great videos, make great ceramic pottery, run a neighborhood car-wash business, fundraise, or sell things. Put in the time and effort not just to be proficient, but to be exceptionally good at it. It doesn’t matter how you learn it—take a class, read a book, watch YouTube videos, etc. A student who takes the time to learn how to do something is always appealing to colleges.
Then find ways to share your new skill with fellow students, community organizations, local businesses or even with a worldwide online community.
Offer your time and skill for free at a local non-profit.
Teach a summer class at a local community college.
Start a club for other people who enjoy or want to learn the same skill.
Upload instructional YouTube videos.
Start a blog or an email newsletter and share weekly tips.
Self-publish a book.
Hold free seminars after school or on the weekends.
Get a part-time job where your skill can be put to use.
Coach a youth sports team.
The opportunities are endless. And the beauty of the information age isn’t just that it’s easy to learn almost anything—it’s also easy to share almost anything.