By Tiffany Phan
Chief Financial Officer
Resonance is a phenomenon in physics where an object’s vibrational amplitude is increased by an external force with a matching natural frequency.
This is a rough definition of a vague scientific concept that most never apply to the real world, but I think it’s a perfect metaphor for the role that interests, hobbies and enjoyments play in our everyday lives. After all, we live in a culture that prioritizes efficiency.
There is no better place to see this phenomenon than within a high school. Our microcosm of society moves forward at a breakneck pace, rushing from event to event and deadline to deadline, driven by the ever-looming threat of college admissions and a vague, intangible future. Students work only toward plans and careers, taking challenging courses and piling on extracurriculars solely to achieve a manufactured dream. Doing things outside of your intended field of study is a waste of time, and if activities can’t contribute in some way to your goal, they’re dismissed and discouraged.
This constant grind, exacerbated by our limited time in high school, leaves no room for exploring things that might bring joy and finding what we truly resonate with. When we sacrifice hobbies and downtime, school becomes a chore instead of a place of learning. Learning is just guided discovery, and making discoveries can be fun—but not when you have no emotional stake in the journey. Our growth, mental health and self-discovery only suffer when we ignore the passions that resonate with us in the name of efficiency. In physics, encountering resonance increases the energy within a system. Similarly, within humans, pursuing our passions can only benefit us, yet we are somehow still so quick to sacrifice enjoyments.
I, like many of my peers, plan on pursuing STEM once I graduate. But despite the single-mindedness that many of us apply to our dreams, I feel empty considering the idea that there might be a future where I’m doing nothing but science. My interests pull themselves in multiple directions—“The Great Gatsby” resonated with me just as much as activation energy in AP Chemistry did. Learning became far more enjoyable when I stopped undervaluing subjects I don’t plan on pursuing, and now I’m more confident about my future goals.
Society may try to push us into molds in the name of our futures, but we don’t have to lock ourselves onto a path this early in our lives. It’s far better to seek out all the things you resonate with and attempt to pursue them.