How and Why to Get Involved in Extracurricular Activities at School

If you don’t like school to begin with, you may be wondering why you would voluntarily spend more time there—especially when it won’t even count toward your grades! Here are a few reasons why it’s worth giving extracurricular activities a shot:

• They help you build essential skills for your future: Participating in extracurricular activities will help you develop important skills, such as time management, accountability, and teamwork. These will come in handy when you enter the job market later on.
• They’re an avenue for exploring your interests: Extracurricular activities are a perfect opportunity to learn about topics and disciplines you might otherwise have overlooked. They can also give you an idea of the type of career you would (or wouldn’t) be interested in pursuing.
• They can improve your academic performance: According to a number of studies, extracurricular activities can have a positive impact on your grades, in particular by increasing your motivation and helping you develop organizational and time management skills.
• They can boost your self-esteem: If you find school difficult, doing activities where you excel and don’t have to worry about grades can improve your self-image.
• They provide an opportunity to forge new friendships or strengthen existing ones: By taking part in extracurricular activities, you’ll meet people who share the same interests as you. Seeing them regularly and going through different experiences together will help you develop strong, lasting bonds.
• They’re good for your mental health: Doing extracurricular activities that match your interests and that you enjoy can help reduce stress, improve your mood, and encourage you to develop positive lifestyle habits, such as spending less time on your phone!
• They’re great for your résumé: Landing your first job is never easy, especially when you have no work experience to put on your résumé. That’s where extracurricular activities can be a real asset. Indicating on your résumé that you won a competition, organized an event, or captained your basketball team, for example, can give employers a better sense of your skills and qualities.

Looking for an extracurricular activity but not interested in theatre or soccer? Not to worry. There are all sorts of extracurricular activities. What’s more, how you feel about an activity can change depending on the location (school or municipal establishment), the timing, and the people you’re with. Here are some examples of the many activities you can choose from:

• Sports, such as basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, hockey, and volleyball.
• Cultural and artistic activities, such as singing, theatre and dance troupes, student newspapers and radio, improv, and emceeing
• School, social, or community initiatives, such as student committees, volunteer services, peer helper programs, or an environmental or advocacy committee
• Student clubs, which allow you to meet up with other students who have the same interests as you, such as reading, writing, robotics, chess, photography, or languages

Of course, there are also one-time extracurricular activities that don’t require a full year of commitment. Some schools organize events such as Christmas parties, fashion shows, debates, mock UN assemblies, public speaking competitions, and science fairs.

Now that you’ve decided you want to sign up for an extracurricular activity, how do you choose?

Choosing an extracurricular activity may sound difficult, but these simple tips can help you make the right choice:

• Start by identifying your interests and talents. Maybe you’d like to do an activity you’ve always enjoyed, or maybe you’re looking to try something new!
• Consider your schedule: Do you already have a part-time job or other responsibilities that take up most of your free time? Can you stay at school after hours? Do you have limited transportation options?
• Ask yourself what your goals are: Do you want to learn a specific skill, make friends who share your interests, add more physical activity to your routine, or just relax and have fun?
• Pay attention to opportunities mentioned by your teachers or other school staff. Don’t hesitate to speak to the education specialists at your school for advice.
• Finally, think about what you’d like to learn about and what skills you want to develop. For example, if you know that your dream job involves a fair amount of public speaking, you could find an activity that would allow you to practise this skill, such as debate club or Model UN. If your aim is to hone your creativity and gain self-confidence, you could try an improv or theatre troupe.

Participating in extracurricular activities is simple in theory, but for many students, it requires overcoming certain obstacles. Fortunately, this can be done with the right strategies and a little perseverance.

If shyness is holding you back, take things one small step at a time. Identify your strengths and interests and choose an activity that isn’t brand new to you. If you’d rather try something you’ve never done before, see if you can sign up with a friend. It’ll feel less scary than taking the leap on your own! It might also be a good idea to let the adult leading the activity know that you’re nervous. That way, they can check in with you and make sure you feel comfortable.

It’s normal to have doubts before trying something new. Give yourself time to learn and adjust. Try not to give up as soon as you feel a bit of uncertainty—it often takes a while to adapt to new experiences. Remember as well that extracurricular activities are a perfect tool for identifying your likes and dislikes.

If you’re still not feeling it after a few weeks, discuss possible solutions with your friends and family.

There are many benefits to doing extracurricular activities, but not if they’re starting to feel like a burden. If your schedule is overloaded with activities, work, school, and other obligations, it’s only natural to feel stressed. Stress is a warning sign that you may have taken on too much, and that it might be wise to review your schedule and priorities. We recommend doing no more than 20 hours of extracurricular activities per week. Beyond that, they can start to hurt your grades and mood.

If your school doesn’t offer the activity you want to do, don’t despair. You have nothing to lose by pitching the idea to the school’s administration, other staff members, or student council. Extracurricular activities are often finalized in advance, but the school might be able to organize a trial run; depending on how students respond, the activity could be added the following year. Even if things don’t go your way, the process of preparing and presenting your pitch will be a valuable experience.

Another option is to see whether the activity is offered elsewhere, such as at your local community centre or through a municipal program.