Isles Yacht Club, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

By: Isaac Woo

Extracurricular activities are a fantastic way to break the boredom of regular schoolwork and dive headfirst into something you truly enjoy. Whether sports, music, drama, or even volunteering, these activities provide you with various opportunities for finding new passions, developing new skills, and meeting people who share similar interests. They give you a sense of purpose outside of the classroom and help build confidence and time management skills. Everything from joining a soccer team, learning to play an instrument, to working on some kind of community projects can be a great way to mix things up besides your schoolwork.

Moreover, these activities can be an excellent way to build character through cultivating teamwork. Whether performing in a play or playing a sport, students will have a chance to engage with their peers, forming deep and potentially lifelong connections with one another. Extracurriculars, especially in sports, also expose students to being team players and force them to adapt to their environments, allowing them to work with others and help improve social skills.

Aside from personal growth, extracurriculars look great on your resume or college applications. Most employers and schools love to see applicants who can handle multiple responsibilities and take charge when it comes to matters of interest. Even if you aren’t looking to get anything for your portfolio, the real benefit of extracurriculars lies in how they make you feel – whether it be the thrill of athletic competition, the joy of artistic pursuit, or just the satisfaction of belonging to something. Whatever that is, extracurriculars are a way to dive into your passions and develop yourself further than the classroom.

College Board. “Are Extracurricular Activities Important to Colleges?” BigFuture, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/help-center/are-extracurricular-activities-important-colleges. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

St. Johnsbury Academy. “Why Extracurricular Activities?” St. Johnsbury Academy, https://stjacademy.org/a-culture-of-caring-and-respect/the-boarding-experience/7-things-in-common-with-the-best-private-schools/why-extracurricular/. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Bakoban, Raja, and Amin Albarky. “Extracurricular Activities and Their Effect on Students’ Academic Achievement and Performance in Secondary School.” ERIC, 2015, https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1230758.pdf. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

University of Waterloo. “Five Reasons You Should Get Involved with Extracurriculars in High School.” Future Students, https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/missing-manual/high-school/five-reasons-you-should-get-involved-extracurriculars-high. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.