You’ve heard it before - extracurricular activities are so important, you can’t get into college without them. It’s like you have to participate in a million different activities, balance a tough school load, and then save the world in order to get into a college of your choice. But trust me, it doesn’t have to be that way at all. In fact, if you’re thinking of extracurriculars this way, you’re doing it wrong. You’ll end up miserable and wiped out, and that just sucks. Here’s a simple guide on how to choose your extracurriculars, and the number of them (don’t go crazy folks!).
Know your capabilities. Before you volunteer yourself for 10 different charitable organizations, take a step back and honestly ask yourself: how much can I do? Some people are able to juggle large amounts of commitments, others aren’t. The good news is that you don’t have to do 5,000 of them in order to benefit from extracurriculars - it’s all about the work and interest you put into these activities that make them worthwhile in the first place. If that means deeply focusing on just two or three, you’re doing it right. Quality is better than quantity in this case.
Choose something you enjoy. If I had a dollar for how many times I saw my friends joining clubs they didn’t care for, just because it looked good on a college application, I’d be filthy rich. Halfheartedly joining an honor society, such as the famous National Honor Society, and sacrificing a passion of yours, such as Orchestra or band, does nobody any favors. The people in the honor society will be expecting so much out of you, and you’ll fail to deliver. Extracurriculars are a way for colleges to see what you can achieve outside the classroom - if you want to look good, and be happy, you have to achieve. Of course, the easiest way to achieve is by doing something you love.
Shyness should not be holding you back. If you’re shy, I’ve got news for you: lots of people are in the same boat as you. Many successful people are introverts, and it’s no big deal. When you join a club or organization that has people that are just like you, it’ll be pretty hard not to talk to people! You’ll be hanging around others that have the same interests as you, and before you know it, you’ll have made a bunch of friends. Oh, and you’ll be thanking yourself you didn’t let your shyness hold you back :).
Don’t be afraid to back out. Contrary to popular belief, quitting isn’t the worst thing in the world. If you’re not enjoying a certain club, it just might not be the thing for you. When you’re in this situation, you have a few options. First and foremost, talk to the club president/leader/dictator, whatever. It may turn out that there is something else you could be doing in the organization that’d be better suited to you. Most people are flexible in this sense, and are willing to help you out. Secondly, try giving it some time. For some organizations, such as a sport, you may feel like you’re wasting your time or are undervalued. I’d try sticking with it; you’d be surprised as to how important you actually are, should you try to leave. Finally, if you’re at the last resort, talk to the team captain or advisor, and just tell them how you feel. If you’ve truly exhausted all other options, then it simply means you’re not in the right place. It’s OK to admit this; of course, try to take to care of any commitments you may have made to the club, whether that mean finding a replacement, or at least helping finish one last project, etc.
Understand the purpose of extracurriculars. People usually do things better if they understand why they’re doing them in the first place. With extra-curricular activities, there are several goals. One of them is to develop your passions and interests; this means joining the robotics club because you like technology, or becoming a part of the choir because you like singing. By participating in such things, you get better at what you enjoy (and you can even win awards and be recognized). Colleges like to see personal development; they want to know what makes you unique, what differentiates you, etc. By being part of a club or sport, and enjoying it, you show colleges (and yourself) that you have a life outside of the plain old school setting, and that you have interests and passions. Basically, you’re telling them you’re a unique human being, with goals and aspirations that you’re willing to work to fulfill. And that’s great!
As individuals, it’s up to us to define our lives, our character, and who we truly are. One of the best ways to do this is through extra-curriculars, where people get the opportunity to work alongside like-minded people, and do amazing things. Colleges, employers, all people like to see awesome things that result from passions and interests that you hold, especially if it’s outside of school. Go out there, and see where your interests take you. You may find your future career along the way!
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