There is a truism that says that youth is wasted on the young.

As an educator with more than 20 years of experience in the classroom, I have had a front-row seat to watch the remarkable highs and frustrating lows of adolescence.

As a college counselor at a small Islamic school and now an independent educational consultant, I have watched many cohorts of students progress through the ranks from middle to high school before navigating the college application process.

There are two overlapping characteristics that define the most successful students:

* A passion for reading

* An intellectual curiosity that springs from within

As a teacher, my least favorite questions are “Is this going to be on the test?” and “Is this graded?”

Each implies a lazy reliance on the extrinsic motivation of grades.

Colleges, and indeed people in general, are not looking for academic robots but are rather seeking inspirational and passionate thinkers and doers.

The very first word of the Quran that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was “Read.”

An innate passion for reading and ideas allows a select few young people to navigate the social media-infested waters and shoals of apathy in a way that keeps their pilot light of curiosity burning.

But this quality is within the grasp of all.  

Here are five specific recommendations on how to take advantage of your youth before your old age.

1) Listen to The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz

It is uncanny how many world-class performers read this book when they were about 15 years old.

It is a remarkably simple (if somewhat quaint) look at how an unshakeable belief that “I can do it” is the thermostat that regulates what we can accomplish in life.

Most young people don’t believe they can succeed at the highest levels.

So they don’t.

I am constantly drilling home to my students that “Your I Can is more important than your IQ.”

I always add that “Your Iman is the source of your I Can.”

The reality is that we can’t do anything without the help and permission of Allah.

But with His help and permission, we can do ANYTHING.

Firm belief, or in Islamic terms, iman, and a vivid vision triggers the mind to figure out the how-to.

2) Read How to Be a High School Superstar by Cal Newport.

This book delivers on its subtitle, “A Revolutionary Plan to Get into College by Standing Out (Without Burning Out).”

Newport advocates for counterintuitive ideas like “The Law of Underscheduling.”

Instead of filling their schedule with a grueling list of APs and endless extracurriculars, students should pack their schedules with free time.

This grants them the freedom to pursue their true passions with a single-minded focus that allows them to become “pointy” in one or two areas of authentic interest.

Top colleges are not looking for “well-rounded” students.

Instead, they are seeking to build well-rounded classes of pointy individuals.

By leaving enough time in your schedule to go deep and invest heavily in your top interests, you are cutting down on the stress of high school while becoming more intellectually and emotionally alive.        

3) Calibrate your Qibla

The Qibla is the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca that Muslims face during their daily prayers. Metaphorically, finding one’s Qibla means having a clear purpose and direction in life and doggedly working towards it.

Knowingly or unknowingly, everyone is pursuing their own Qibla. Make sure you have chosen wisely.

One of the reasons I love shepherding students through the college application process is that it forces them to come face to face with the age-old question: What makes you you?

So many people, including most adults, are sleepwalking through life, putting out one urgent fire after the next without ever zooming out to see the 10,000 foot view of their lives.

They never make the time to consider who they are and what they are trying to accomplish in life.

Only about 20% of the population sets goals. And only about 15% of those who set goals write them down.

Meanwhile, a Harvard Business study found that the 3% of graduates from their MBA program who had written down their goals ended up earning ten times as much as the other 97% put together, just ten years after graduation.

I will be launching the next iteration of my Find Your Qibla premium group coaching course soon where I will teach students how to clarify their purpose and set ambitious goals.

4)  30 Minutes a Day: The Surprisingly Simple Way to Stand Out in the College Admissions Game

As a college counselor, I get lots of questions about the most effective strategies for gaining admission to competitive colleges.

It is my firm belief that dedicating 30 minutes a day for a full year to the steps below can transform high school students into compelling college candidates with a fraction of the stress faced by those who overload their plates with a grueling slate of extracurriculars.

* Google any topic that piques your interest and add “Just For Dummies.” The “For Dummies” series provides a wealth of articles (and their famous books) on a wide range of topics written in easy-to-understand language. Once you have read enough of this series, you will be far from a dummy yourself.

* Watch educational YouTube channels like CrashCourse or TedEd to explore topics that you are curious about. We all know YouTube will be a big part of your diet; don’t neglect to eat your fiber.

* Go on a walk and listen to podcasts, especially ones like Stuff You Should Know or Everything Everywhere, which offer short snippets of high quality, high interest material. What could be better than getting exercise and expanding your mind all at once?

College is a bottom-line business. One of the dirty secrets of the industry is that a large factor in admissions decisions is the future earning potential of their graduates.

The creator economy is now king, and nothing predicts success in this market as clearly as genuine intellectual curiosity. Young people who somehow manage to retain their childlike wonder at how the world works and never stop asking why will rise to the top when admissions committees are meeting.

5) Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

I wrote this quote in a student’s yearbook about 15 years ago. Years later, she told me it was the most profound piece of advice she had ever received.

So many of us become so paralyzed by the pursuit of perfection that we end up stagnating and not being even good.

One of the gifts of youth is that no one expects you to have it all figured out. Revel in this freedom, and lean into the discomfort of being a beginner.

Whenever I would head off to camp in the summer, my father would send along a copy of Rudyard Kipling’s masterpiece “If.” Try to read it once a month and assess how far along you are to becoming a “man, my son.”

In conclusion, harnessing the potential of youth is about cultivating a passion for reading, nurturing intellectual curiosity, setting clear and ambitious goals, and embracing the freedom to explore and learn without the fear of failure.

By integrating timeless wisdom from the Quran, adopting strategic approaches from thought leaders, and dedicating just a small portion of time daily to self-improvement, young people can navigate their formative years with purpose and confidence.

Let your curiosity and determination be the compass that guides you to success, both in this world and the next.

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