Is that really true? I feel like there are people who are actually just passionate about things early on and have ample opportunity to explore those passions. I

Is that really true? I feel like there are people who are actually just passionate about things early on and have ample opportunity to explore those passions. I believe those kinds of students are able to make it into top schools as well even though they aren't studying for the sake of getting into them.. Or maybe I am naive