“When I was a teenager, I began to settle into school because I’d discover the extracurricular activities that interested me…” Morgan Freeman explained what extracurricular activities did for him. Almost every high school offers a plethora of extracurricular activities. While teachers don’t always implement it and parents are hesitate about it, participating in extracurricular activities will bring children many benefits. Allowing high school students to get involved in extracurricular activities is a very positive and beneficial choice in a variety of ways. Extracurricular activities help teach time management, grow social development, and leave a positive impact on college applications. Extracurricular activities requires students to organize …show more content…
While grades and test scores serve as a testament to a student’s success, the numbers do not always indicate the type of student the applicant is. “Extracurricular activities are the major way students can demonstrate how unique they are, possibly more interesting, even “better” than other student applicants, and showcase what they love to do” (Shaevitz). College applicants inquire about extracurricular activities to gauge the potential of the student. Although many believe balancing schoolwork with extracurricular activities can be too stressful or demanding, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations; “A study done by the College Entrance Examination Board on the study of the relationship of extracurricular activity involvement in high school and SAT scores concluded that “participation in extracurricular activities provides all students – including students from disadvantaged backgrounds, minorities and those with less-than-distinguished academic achievements in high school – a measurable and meaningful gain in their college admissions test scores. The important reasoning abilities measured by tests like the SAT, evidently, are indeed developed both in and out of the classroom.” (Everson and
One extracurricular activity that I am very passionate about would be the FFA. FFA has taught me so many things and it has brought me so many places. I 've learned how to be a great speaker from different events my advisor has challenged me to do. Public speaking has taken me so many places and I have attributed most of my success to FFA. When I was a freshmen I competed and received gold in the creed speaking competition. As a sophomore, I tried extemporaneous speaking and received a gold for that as well. As a junior I really wanted to challenge myself so I took up agricultural sales as my winter career development experience. I ended up being recognized as the state runner up individual agriculture salesman as well as the 15th best agricultural sales man in the nation. Now as a senior, I have been going around speaking at different school board meetings, advocating
UNC Asheville’s vision of a diverse and inclusive community excites me. One of my main expectations of college is the opportunity to reach beyond my comfort zone, make new connections and broaden my view of the world. I can’t wait to join a college community emphasizing tolerance, respect for others and diversity in addition to providing a quality education. In high school, I was involved in a broad range of extra-curricular activities not to build a resume but to get the most of out every day. I am bringing that same passion to college. My interests and hobbies include the arts and politics. I expect to continue those interests and activities in college, performing on stage and participating in student government organizations. In
At the University of California-Berkeley (Cal State), the minimum SAT score requirements for student-athletes were vastly below the average of regular incoming freshman. It is clear that in all three SAT categories, the scores were a 200 points below the incoming freshman class. Colleges in the United States are not focu...
College level courses such as AP, IB, and AICE have not only become crucial for high school students, but increasingly controversial. In modern-day America, these courses have become the primary method used to prepare high school students for higher education. In order for all high school students to be college-ready, it is essential they all be allowed to take challenging college-level courses, even if these students are deemed ‘unready’. “Behold the Power of Challenging all High School Students-not Just the A Team” by Jay Mathews argues that all high school students benefit from the opportunity of taking college level courses in high school as preparation for college.
A common denominator that successful people share is the involvement of playing a varsity sport in high school. Every high school in the United States is different, however all encourage students to get involved. Most commonly, students decide to join sports. High school sports can cause profitable effects because students live healthier lives, achieve higher grades and learn life lessons.
Extracurricular involvement through one's school, is a key and crucial factor in succeeding, while growing and developing during the early stages of a student's life. I am an actively involved and motivated student, for I participate in numerous school activities while consistently undertaking superb grades. Throughout my past two years in middle school, I have prospered in the following activities: Newspaper club, Cross Country, Track, Academic Olympics, the Ocean County Math League, Chorus, National Junior Honor Society, and finally, Student Council. In the duration of these activities, I have flourished and excelled greatly.
Sports are an easy activity to participate in, which every passionate high school student hopes to get a college scholarship for. The University of Michigan scouts for well-rounded students to enroll within their school who participate in activities in and out of school. It would not matter if a high school student was on a travel soccer team, but was not on the varsity team at their high school. This is because colleges look for those who participate in sports within school and have excelling grades. Although, the University of Kansas looks for high school “graduates that participated in many activities both in and out of school” (Berkowitz). It is not whether students decide which college to attend solely by their own decision, but it is the college’s preference in whic...
According to the article Getting into College, “there are over a half million more 17-year-olds in the United States than there were 10 years ago” (Ewers and Haight). The increased amount of applicants only makes the process that much more selective and competitive. The article continues to point out that, by 2004, nearly forty-seven percent of high school students graduated with an A average. Because of this influx in applicants, colleges only want to accept the smartest, most diverse, and most involved students. This is obviously a very frightening and stressful thought for most adolescents. Students then begin to push themselves just a little harder, stay up just a tad longer to study , and take on just a few more clubs with one motive in mind—to further decorate their college applications. This added stress and pressure may not seem like a monumental issue at first, but it can develop into serious illnesses if it is not maintained and
To me, extracurricular activities are not just clubs that I participate in to make my college application look more “full” and “impressive.” I participate in them because I enjoy being a part of them. An extracurricular that I am very passionate about is band. While I have played the piano since I was five, I wanted to be a part of a group of people that share the same passion for music as I do. Band has two seasons, marching and concert season, and I am a section leader for both of them. During marching season I am in charge of teaching the freshmen how to march, teaching them how to play their instrument, and teaching them the basics of marching season and what to expect. I am present at all of the auditions, camps, and practices, and I help anyone that is in need of it. Since I am in percussion, we have auditions to see what instrument we will be on during marching season. I chose to stay on my instrument from last year to improve on my technique and playing, as well as to help the incoming freshmen that will be new to the instrument. Since I am the front ensemble (a part of the percussion section) section leader, I assigned the music, I moved all of the instruments outside (along with the help of fellow percussionists), and I lead practices for my section. During concert season, I pass out and collect music and choose an ensemble that the
Extra-curricular activities are found in all levels of our schools in many different forms. They can be sports, clubs, debate, drama, school publications, student council, and other social events. A student’s future can be determined in the things that they do in the hours after school and before their parents get home. Through the dedication of athletes/artists and coaches, all athletes/artists will effectively communicate so we can successfully complete our vision. In order to achieve this, coaches and athletes/artists will share their passion for their activity. If every athlete/artist recruits at least one individual into their activity, the vision is attainable.
One of the central struggles among college students today is that they are required to compete against one another to appear exceptional. In frequent cases, students are trying so vigorously to appear favorable on paper in order to be accepted into a prestigious school or to be hired for a higher-paying job. Additionally, students are required
In college, I will also be exposed to new clubs and activities. I feel that club and after school activities can make a person more involved and give a person the right qualities to become a leader. Involvement in extra events has provided a balance for rigorous course study. With the pressures that college brings, I will probably want to be involved in many groups.
The multitudes of extracurricular and academic activities I participate in were chosen because of their focus on my interests. I want to pursue a career in computer engineering and/or biological engineering. In order to help me accomplish this I carefully consider how extracurricular and academic activities will assist me in the future. Currently I am participating in several rigorous academic courses such as AP Physics C and AP Calculus BC to gear me towards a college environment, as well as a variety of clubs that focus on engineering and the sciences. A vast majority of the classes I take are advanced placement, which gives me the chance to obtain college credit before entering college. Advance placement classes also challenge me with faster paced instruction, which prepare me for the speed and difficulty of college level courses. I am currently taking AP Biology, AP Computer Science A, , AP Literature and Composition, AP U.S. Government and Politics, Pre-AP Chinese IV, and Honors Independent Research. In terms of extracurricular activities, I currently participate in the Stock Market Club, Science and Engineering Club, our school’s FRC team, and Chinese Club. In my free time I enjoy building computers, putting together parts lists for computers, programming, playing video games, and learning about various technical jobs and new computing technologies such as server administrator and quantum computing.
McNeal, Ralph. “Extracurricular Activities and High School Dropouts.” Sociology of Education v68n1: Jan 1995, 62-80.
During high school I participated in dance team, football and basketball cheerleading, marching band, color guard, concert band, jazz band, pep band, choir, select choir, drama, Resistance Skills Leaders, National Honor Society, GSA, Skills, Big Buddy, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and speech. I always had something to do, and I enjoyed staying busy. Participating helped me find a place in school. In big school participating gives you a new group of friends. Perry is not very big, so everyone that I was on a team with, I already knew. Doing all of the extra curricular activities that I did, really helped me develop strong emotional bonds with many people that I knew. It taught me to encourage others and that positive reinforcement will always work better than punishments. It showed me that being a leader isn’t about because the person with all of the ideas or the most vocal person, but being the person that inspires others to be creative and help share their thoughts and to lead them in the right direction.