Dear Dr. Renae,
I do not have a special talent or skill. Everyone around me excels at something – sports, music, art, dance, acting, writing, academics, etc. I keep trying out different things that might interest me, but my parents become frustrated when I no longer want to continue. They feel like they are wasting time and money on lessons or equipment. Are some people just mediocre at everything?
All around average 14-year-old
Dear Not so average 14-year-old,
You shouldn’t beat yourself up about this. You’re only 14. You still have so much more life ahead of you and I can pretty much guarantee you’re going to find something that you’re amazing at. Most of the activities your peers may be excelling in are just hobbies. Odds are their careers will have nothing to do with what they’re doing right now. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself to find something. Let it come to you!
A 15-year-old friend
Dear All around exceptional 14-year-old,
Just because you haven’t discovered a particular interest yet, doesn’t mean you’re destined for mediocrity. Everyone is special and unique for some reason or another. You might be a great listener, or good with animals. Just because you haven’t found an aptness that manifests itself as a talent doesn’t mean you don’t have exceptional qualities. For now, I would recommend to stop trying things, since neither you or your parents seem happy. When something peaks your interest, then is the time to get involved. Remember – it’s not your hobbies or talents that define you, it’s your innermost personality traits, which cannot be quantified or qualified.
A caring teen
Dear All around average 14-year-old,
You are not mediocre at everything, you just haven’t worked at anything hard enough to really see if it is right for you. Everyone has an activity that is right for them and don’t worry if you haven’t found yours yet because you are not the only one. Don’t give up and keep trying to find the one that suits your interests. You also do not need to spend money to try activities. When school starts again, join a club or a school sport to try it out. When you find something you like, try to stick with it and continue to work at it. Hard work and dedication matter more than natural talent and you can only get better at something when you do it often.
A caring friend
Dear All around average 14-year-old,
I know exactly what you’re going through. I didn’t find a sport I liked until I was 16. Just like you, my parents felt they were wasting their time and money for me to find something I enjoyed. However, this doesn’t mean that you’re mediocre, it just means you haven’t found the right activity that you particularly excel at yet. This is completely okay. People develop their love for something at different times in life. If you end up like me, you’ll find your talent or skill when you least expect it.
A former try-it-all
Dear All around average 14-year-old,
I would definitely not say mediocre. Everybody is different with different talents and skills. I would suggest applying for a job to help pay for your pursuits. Maybe it’s not a talent or a sport, but something creative and productive you can do. Not everything is for everyone. If your parents are frustrated with you, tell them it was a learning experience for you – not a waste. It would be more of a waste to keep going on with something you don’t enjoy. You’re still young, and your life will work itself out.
A friend who’s been there
Dear All around average 14-year-old,
Everyone finds their passion sooner or later in life. Don’t let others who have passions frustrate you. I think it’s great that you are willing to try different things and branch out. Maybe you can volunteer for some of the activities you want to get involved in to see if you like it before making a financial commitment. Most important, don’t compare yourself to others, be happy with yourself and the accomplishments you have made.
Another 14-year-old who is passionate about lots of things
Dear All around average 14-year-old,
Excelling at a sport or hobby does not guarantee that you will enjoy it. Always competing with others or yourself can be stressful and detract from the unique pleasure of something that fulfills you. The competition mindset that drives you to strive for greater skill can also lead to unhealthy habits and injuries from overtraining. When you truly enjoy an activity, you will want to do it more often and that generally leads to improvement. I recommend that you change your goal of searching for a skill you excel at, to searching for activities and hobbies which you enjoy, regardless of your level of talent.
Dr. Renae