On Obsession
Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that some of my thoughts may sound forthright at times. I would like to emphasize, however, that I welcome all perspectives and am open to conversation if this topic resonates with you. What follows is simply a set of reflections I hope will prompt students to reconsider their interests and experiences with greater clarity.
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“Too much is always bad.”
I agreed with this statement for a long time, yet I have recently begun to feel that it has confined the way I think.
I still believe that indulging excessively in short-term gratification can hinder genuine progress.
I still believe that discipline is essential, and that by exercising control over our actions, we can craft a life that is both meaningful and fulfilling.
But I have also come to recognize that by avoiding obsession altogether, we risk losing an extraordinary opportunity — one that has the power to reshape our identity, our purpose, and our sense of belonging.
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There were many moments in high school when I envied my past self. I wondered how I had once managed to push so far ahead, and felt embarrassed by what seemed like stagnation in the present. Over time, however, I realized that every earlier breakthrough emerged during a period when I allowed myself to be fully immersed — when I embraced a kind of obsession.
I think of obsession as an unplanned adventure. Its duration, destination, or level of sophistication matters far less than the openness with which you pursue it. When you let your curiosity take the lead, the experience itself becomes meaningful.
Favorable outcomes often follow naturally. Obsession is an enduring source of motivation; it occupies your thoughts while you are brushing your teeth, eating dinner, or drifting to sleep. Even without prior knowledge, connections, or a formal plan, your mind begins constructing frameworks — structures that gradually draw you into a community and provide fertile ground for growth. Most importantly, the joy embedded in this state of focused engagement transforms obstacles into manageable tasks, or even invigorating challenges. What others perceive as insurmountable becomes the very force that propels you forward.
In the community I belong to, people tend to be wary of obsessions that fall outside the confines of academics, athletics, or traditional extracurriculars. Yet I believe that any purposeful, self-driven immersion carries immense value. Such immersion shapes identity. As you follow it, you naturally gravitate toward individuals who are curious, dedicated, and optimistic — people who eventually form the scaffolding of your success.
Above all, obsession grants purpose. Burnout and existential uncertainty arise when life feels hollow or directionless. By contrast, when you find an obsession, you become useful to others, you grow beyond your past self, and you gain access to an internal reservoir of energy that sustains your creativity and progress.
If an activity has not been resonating with you — or if you have been maintaining something merely for the sake of appearances — I encourage you to pause and reflect on what genuinely engages you, rather than what you feel compelled to appear passionate about. The latter may produce short-term benefits, but the former provides a deeper sense of direction and may ultimately carry you further.
I trust that you understand the distinction between productive immersion and harmful fixation. When you sense that you are moving toward something meaningful, allow yourself the freedom to pursue it. And expose yourself to as many unexpected opportunities as you can; what seems random today may become life-changing tomorrow.
Thank you for reading.
