Extracurricular activities have long been seen as one of the best ways for a student to make themselves stand out on a college application. But the benefits of extracurricular participation go far beyond that as they help kids develop skills for the adult world, explore new interests, socialize with like-minded peers, and improve their mental health. Getting involved in activities outside the classroom rounds students out and instills them with a drive to achieve.
The Impact of Extracurriulars on Student Growth & Wellbeing
What is the most anxiety inducing question a high school student will receive? “Where are you planning on going to college?” A well-meaning, albeit unfortunate, reminder of the looming decisions they will need to make. The question of college lives in the back of the minds of students along with another worry: What makes them stand out on an application?
In the wake of many colleges no longer requiring ACT and SAT scores, admissions now revolve more than ever on how students spend their time outside the classroom. Students are advised to showcase many different extracurriculars to highlight their successes in their application essays and stand out from the crowd.
Urging students to get involved in activities beyond the classroom is a worthy goal, but the benefits of these extracurriculars go far beyond their appeal to colleges. In the wake of COVID, the distinct lack of social opportunities for students had a profoundly negative effect on their mental health with large increases in reports of depression and anxiety. Social activities with peers play a positive and necessary role in the lives of high school students. Sports, the performing arts, and clubs of all kinds give kids the space and encouragement to pursue passions and develop talents outside of the more rigid classroom setting. These activities create community and build friendships. Where a student has access to equipment they might not at home, and where they can receive mentorship from a trusted adult.
1. Building skills for the adult world
Only a small percentage of student athletes will go on to pursue professional sports, and not all theater kids will end up on Broadway. But if you ask any coach or director what’s most important, they will say the skills being built behind the skills. In other words, a student on the track team is building great physical stamina, but the skill they are really learning is how to push through discomfort and strive toward personal goals.
Teamwork plays a major role in most extracurriculars. Effectively working with others, though rudimentary, is the most important skill someone can have. A football team would not win if the quarterback tried to be a lineman or if the wide receivers didn’t come through on their routes. Everyone needs to do their unique job for a team to succeed. Relying on others to accomplish a goal is invaluable. Everyone either knows how to delegate or would benefit from learning to do so. These team-centric mindsets are sought after skills in every type of work place.
Whether programming a robot to get over a wall or figuring out how to mend interpersonal conflict, the ability to problem solve is another essential skill. One often applied not only in a professional setting, but as an everyday part of life. A point guard making quick decisions on play calling will be able to handle future challenges, like adjusting to a delayed flight or dealing with an angry neighbor. Another critical ability is the development of leadership skills. Most high schools do not offer leadership courses. Therefore, extracurricular activities often serve as the first-place students receive leadership opportunities or formal leadership roles. Companies will always seek effective leaders, regardless of the industry or job. In fact, studies show a majority of women executives (around 80%) participated in team sports during their youth. A clear link exists between future success and involvement in high school athletics.
2. Opportunity to explore interests and find passions
High school extracurriculars operate in the same vein as colleges gen eds—they both help round out students and offer them a variety of topics to explore. In this post-High School Musical world, a student can in fact play basketball and perform in the spring musical. Trying different activities lets students stretch beyond their comfort zones in safe environments that don’t require long-term commitments. If one sport doesn’t click, there’s always a different one to check out next season. These spaces allow for inexperienced starters to learn and grow into their interest.
Through extracurricular activities, schools provide students unique experiences they otherwise would not get at home. Participating in non-traditional sports like archery, use of a real weight room or natatorium, and access to professional design software are just a few examples. Such enrichment opportunities open doors, which may otherwise not exist.
3. Social benefits
After-school activities are an excellent way for students to build in-person community and friendships. Participating in a club not only helps kids bond with others who have the same interests, it also brings students from different grades and friend groups together. The intermingling of different ages and personalities provides students the opportunity to be encouraged and led by older peers as well as guide younger ones in return.
Additionally, it gives kids the space to just exist and socialize safely. Apart from breaks and lunch, the school day is not the best place to chat with peers. Along with dwindling physical spaces for kids to hang out, students are becoming more reliant on social media as their form of connecting (malls are no longer the bastion of high school hangouts they were in the 90’s and early 2000’s). Extracurriculars provide a healthy alternative to the screen.
Beyond the chance to spend time with each other, these programs give students access to caring adults. A coach might act as a mentor who can help a student navigate the path to becoming a college athlete. A club advisor may be an important advocate for a student to pursue their dream career. The presence of positive adult role-models outside the home can make a huge impact on a student’s life.
4. Bettering mental health
The rise in mental health issues among students leads to a need for more solutions to support young adults. Studies show kids entering their teen years will experience a drop in confidence. For girls specifically, their confidence plummets up to 30%. Participation in sports helps build back this self-confidence. And girls who play sports tend to adopt a healthier self-image and view of their physical capabilities, while experiencing lower rates of depression.
Physical activity also improves mental functions. Exercise produces endorphins in the body, which directly improve mood, lowering anxiety and stress levels.
Sports also teach students how to overcome failure and adversity without becoming mentally bogged down by past mistakes. Losing a game one week can still lead to a win the next. Experiencing wins and losses together teaches that loss is not permanent. A valuable lesson which builds emotional resilience and encourages perseverance.
The Effect of Extracurriculars Beyond College Applications
Colleges look for potential students by way of their after-school involvements. The reason is not just for their accomplishments but because of the kind of adults extracurriculars help students become.
They round out students. Extracurricular activities promote healthier physical lives and instill in their participants a drive to achieve along with a resiliency after failure. They help create and build skills that will endlessly benefit students in their adult lives. Most importantly, after-school programs offer a necessary and direly needed improvement to the mental health of high school students.
Sources:
The Benefits of Sports for Girls | ACTIVEkids
Girls who do sports succeed | ShareAmerica
The Confidence Code for Girls x Ypulse (squarespace.com)
The 10 Mental Benefits of Sports for Teens | Newport Academy
Recent Comments