Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-14138255-20140829002738/@comment-25154376-20140902163135

Perhaps Semblances work kind of like how Left-Handedness does. Where a fraction of the population (10-20%) are born with their Semblances already manifested. People who aren't born with their Semblances manifested can still learn to unlock it, but it will not be easy and their Semblance may never be as strong as a natural Semblance user (much like how a righty can learn to use their left hand but their left may never be as strong/coordinated as someone naturally left-handed). We see so many people with their Semblances unlocked in Beacon because it would only be logical that a disproportionately high amount of Semblance users choose combat-oriented careers as they have a natural advantage (much like how a disproportionately high number of lefties are baseball pitchers, fencers, boxers etc. because being left-handed gives them an edge).