To figure out how to put your talents to work for you in college you first need to decide exactly what those talents are. Taking a few moments to make an honest assessment of your strengths and limitations will save you time and energy in the long run. It might even make the difference between an average and an incredible college experience.

What exactly is talent?

Define talent as any quality that seems like a natural endowment in an individual. You know you have a talent for something when you are able to excel at it with minimal effort. Talent is innate ability. Most of the time people also enjoy participating in activities they have natural aptitude toward. Talent can manifest itself in small children or individuals can discover talents they never knew they had later on in life. Entering into college, you are probably already aware of several talents you possess. Over the next few years you will surely discover other areas where you are blessed with nearly effortless capability. Begin by taking an inventory of the top five talents you know you have. Then write down the top five talents you wish you had. Finally, write down the top five weaknesses you feel hinder you the most. Armed with this list, you will be able to sort through a world of possibilities for honing your natural talents.

What traits might be considered talents?

Consider every area of your life when searching for your top talents. Being incredibly organized, motivated, meticulous, or disciplined are all talents that would obviously benefit you in the classroom, but don't limit your list to the obvious. Dig deeper. Perhaps you have artistic talent. You might think this won't help you outside of an art major, but this talent can give you a boost in just about any subject. Anyone who can use the elements of design can use this gift to turn in unique projects. Maybe you have a professor who is open to using different mediums besides the traditional term paper. I once had a class where students had the option of compiling a collection of original poetry, a photo journal, or a video documentary as alternatives to a paper. If you have athletic talent you can use this to help you pay for college in the form of scholarships or sponsorships. Maybe leadership skills are your talent. This will definitely benefit you on group projects. You could also use your tenacity to start a study group or head up a school activity. Being a member of student government always

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