When it comes to choosing an academic subject to write a book upon, the first advice I received from a Stanford Grad (On YouTube, of course!) was to choose something I was an expert on.
I have a lot of varying interests but I barely know in depth about any of them. But having an unembellished past has one advantage. When your past doesn't dictate your choices, you are free to explore and your future holds infinite possibilities.
Writing a book on an academic subject has long since been on my to do list. I spent the summer learning literary analysis and was planning to write an AP guide to analysing Pride and Prejudice. But I have shifted that project to next summer.
Something cropped up my mind. An idea! I have lots of them floating around and some are too crazy and a long shot from my current capabilities. But I treasure then nonetheless.
My idea is to write an interactive and introductory graphic book for Calculus for 11th graders. And I have just begun 11th grade.
I am not a math whiz. I do not have Olympiads or research papers in my resume. But I do know math makes me happy (on most days) and solving a proof instills pride in me.
I am also well aware of my determination which borders on stubbornness when I wrap my head around a project.
I may not have mastered differentiation or limits, but I have dealt with more failures, both personal and academic, than I care to count. In a room of intellectuals, I am not afraid to question the most basic principles, even if I am ridiculed. The truly intelligent and wise person will not bash me for curiosity.
When you make it to the PCM section in 11th grade (Physics, Chemistry and Maths, which are the core engineering subjects), you are surrounded with many pseudo intellectuals who in peer pressure boast of a swelling knowledge than their receptiveness would allow. It is up to you to sift through the empty shells to find an oyster or give up the conquest and savor solitude. I chose the latter and am proud to say that I gave up before I fully tried.
My ignorance makes me unique. It means I have an empty cup of knowledge which I can fill with anything of my choice. It makes me feel better than to have a set of beliefs that do not serve me. I was in that position a few weeks ago and have been constantly learning and unlearning. It is a symbiotic process.