As high school students, we often find ourselves balancing classes, homework, and the occasional existential crisis. Amid this chaotic whirlwind, brushing aside those flyers for after-school clubs, sports, and events is easy. However, when you have a passion for sports, science, or whatever sparks your curiosity, do you really have a choice? But hold on a second—do these extracurricular activities actually have something valuable to offer, or are they just another item on our packed to-do lists?
You see, being a part of extracurricular activities, like my involvement in Science Olympiad, Bullhorn News, and those rigorous classes, isn’t just filling up your schedule. It’s all about personal growth.
Participating in extracurriculars can help students develop crucial life skills. For example, being involved in various activities like Science Olympiad, Bullhorn News, and classes forces you to manage your time efficiently.
In Science Olympiad (A competitive science-based extracurricular program that allows students to explore various scientific disciplines through hands-on events and team competitions), I learned not only about, well, science but also about teamwork. We learn and adapt to our teammates' working styles in each event, enhancing our teamwork skills and teaching us how to work cohesively with others.
Over time, you might take on leadership roles within clubs or teams, this experience helps you develop leadership qualities, such as decision-making, communication, and motivating others.
Writing for Bullhorn News and participating in activities like debate clubs can improve your communication skills. You learn to express your ideas clearly, persuasively, and respectfully, which is valuable in any career. Clubs and extracurriculars also teach you resilience.
With the amount of times I’ve wanted to just storm out of a room and get the day over—this skill is vital and helps you bounce back from failures.
High school can be a rollercoaster and we all need a support system. Extracurriculars can also help you build a network of peers, mentors, and professionals. During high school, you will need people to support and guide you. Having a mentor or peer to hold you up, help you while you choose the college that’s best for you, or just be there for you, is very helpful.
This network will be beneficial in your future career; whether it be internships, job opportunities, or simply finding a better state of life, networking can be your golden ticket.
Let’s seize the chance to take on extracurricular activities that could help us in life. They won’t just be items on your to-do list; they’re the formula to making the high school journey richer, more fulfilling, and ours. Through personal growth and the lifetime networks we create, extracurriculars offer us more than we might imagine. So don’t hesitate—dive into high school with the goal of having an experience your future self will thank you for.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
Read More
Ultimate Frisbee: From a Lone Disc to the Ultimate Game
By Lev Weisenberg | Nov. 22Ultimate Frisbee is a rapidly expanding sport that brings together people from all walks of life. What can we learn from this sport, its inclusive environment, and unusual rules? The history of the game is a fascinating story that most players today are not familiar with following Joel Silver in 1968. What is Ultimate Frisbee, who plays it, and why?
Project 2025: Why Should the World Be Watching?
By Hiyan Daniels | Nov. 16With Donald Trump officially being announced as the 47th President of the United States, project 2025 is being put into action. If it continues to gain power, it could seriously harm the freedoms we all take for granted, from the right to choose what we learn, to the ability to control our own bodies and the right to vote.
Are you a Cassie or a Maddie? The Depths of Media Representation & Consumption
By Magdalena Johnson | Nov. 16As consumers, do we let Euphoria consume us? The notable HBO series and its infamous characters spur a a series of questions about youth and their media. Do youth romanticize toxic love, friendship, or substance abuse because we’ve seen them on TV, or are we actually better able to recognize bad behavior because we’ve seen it on TV?