passion projects
Meet two remarkable students who completed a three-year Passion Project under the guidance of Karen Curreri. As West Coast Ambassadors for the nonprofit Underwater Hypoxic Blackout Prevention (UHBP), they co-authored Take a Breath, Seth, a children's book designed to raise awareness about the dangers of breath-holding while engaging in recreational water activities. Their dedication caught the attention of a local philanthropist, who was so inspired by their work that they made a significant donation to UHBP. The organization is committed to preventing tragic and entirely avoidable drownings caused by prolonged breath-holding.
Why We Support Passion Projects
At Curreri College Counseling, we believe that passion projects are one of the most powerful ways for students to stand out in the college admissions process. In today’s competitive landscape, top colleges are looking beyond test scores and GPAs—they want to see evidence of curiosity, initiative, and impact. Passion projects allow students to demonstrate all three.
Whether it’s launching a nonprofit, conducting independent research, creating a podcast, writing a book, or building an app, a well-executed passion project tells colleges a compelling story: not just who the student is, but what they care about, how they think, and what they’re capable of achieving outside the classroom.
We help students identify and develop meaningful projects that reflect their interests and values. By guiding them through each step—from idea generation to execution—we ensure their work is both authentic and strategic, aligning with their broader academic and career goals.
Passion projects show colleges more than what you've studied—they show what you've done. And that can make all the difference.
