Skill. Talent. Passion. These three characteristics make up a person who might be considered elite in their chosen field. It starts with talent, those given attributes that people have at birth and that is in the DNA of all of us. Some people have many talents, others not so much. Passion is that quality that some people acquire, and that drives them towards perfection. Skill is that attribute that must be worked on throughout life and that steers one towards their goals. This course will focus on these three characteristics, who attains them and why, how they are used, and where they are applied in many different scenarios, including sports, academics, music, art, careers, and life (including cursive writing!). Using many videos (particularly sports) and real-life examples, we will compare and contrast the development of skills over time, and within an individual’s lifetime. By the end of the course, students should have a better understanding of people who are elite, what makes them so, and how best to attain skills. 

This course will combine lecture with class discussions. There are no required books for this course.