"I preferred to study those subjects that were of interest to me"

A simple declaration of preference becomes a philosophy of learning centered on intrinsic motivation. Choosing subjects because they spark curiosity harnesses the most powerful driver of sustained effort: interest. When attention is captivated, difficulties feel like puzzles rather than obstacles. Time stretches, persistence becomes natural, and the appetite for depth grows. Cognitive research supports this intuition: interest increases focus, improves memory consolidation, and encourages transfer of knowledge across domains. Passion does not merely accelerate learning; it transforms it.

“Preferred” signals discernment rather than defiance. It acknowledges that not every requirement will inspire, yet it urges a deliberate allocation of energy to pursuits that ignite engagement. This is a strategic approach to mastery. People excel where they linger longest, and they linger where they care. By gravitating toward compelling problems, learners tend to define original paths and develop uncommon expertise.

Preference is not a plea for narrowness. Genuine interest radiates outward. A fascination with algorithms can lead to mathematics, neuroscience, or art; a love of history can introduce statistics, ethics, and data visualization. Curiosity is connective. It creates interdisciplinary bridges and reveals unexpected relevance. Even when facing necessary but less exciting material, anchoring it to a personally meaningful question makes it digestible. Interest can be cultivated by reframing tasks, finding authentic stakes, or linking abstractions to lived experience.

Education works best when it respects agency. Offering choice, project-based pathways, and mentorship invites learners to discover what genuinely compels them. That discovery is not instantaneous; it evolves through exposure, experimentation, and reflection. Aligning study with emerging identity builds resilience, because setbacks met in the service of a chosen pursuit feel worthwhile rather than arbitrary.

In an age where information is abundant and attention is scarce, prioritizing what fascinates is both efficient and emancipatory. It is a disciplined form of freedom: letting curiosity set the direction, then committing to the hard work that sustained interest demands.