However, there is another more playful component of a well-rounded education
-- outside the regular academic program -- that may positively impact students'
success. Extracurricular activities, such as basketball, baseball, tennis,
debating, chess clubs, student government, yearbook, drama, choir and computer
clubs can round out students' academic careers to great effect.
Besides being fun and a great way to socialize with peers, extracurricular
activities can enhance students' time management and stress management skills,
improving overall productivity. Extracurricular activities also increase a
candidate's appeal when applying to college.
"Studies show that students in extracurricular activities have higher
[academic] scores. They learn to manage their time, relieve stress and learn to
strive for excellence in more than one thing," says Kenny Smith, a school
counselor in Thatcher, Arizona. "Students who are involved in team sports
learn to work in groups. Their written and oral communication skills improve.
These things cross over into 'real life.' The students who participate in
extracurricular activities are held to a higher plane. There are no team
breaks. The privilege [to play on a team] must meet specific
requirements."
"Participation in extracurricular activities is a privilege and
students may have to meet and maintain a minimum grade point average to play
sports or take part in clubs." So says Parent Spot, produced by the
Capital Region BOCES Community Service in Albany, N.Y.
Some extracurricular programs are designed to help at-risk teens. One
program, Students Keeping Attitudes Towards Earning Rewards and Success
(SKATERS), in Moreno Valley, California, involves tutoring, academics, running
a food pantry, and participating in service learning activities. To make it
easier for students to participate, the group meets at lunchtime rather than
after school. Having started with 20 at-risk students, there are now as many as
500 participants per year.
Faye Arco is the counselor who started the SKATERS program. She says,
"Participation in extracurricular and school club activities increases
resiliency in youth by promoting protective factors and reducing risk factors.
Data shows that participants have a higher GPA (0.98 percent), fewer suspensions
(13.9 percent), and better attendance (15.8 percent) than non-participants.
Counselors come from as far away as New Zealand and Poland to observe the
program, which has now been implemented in many schools."
Adding extracurricular activities to an already rigorous high school
schedule can be tricky. There may be times when academic requirements, family
life and social activities conflict.
"For example, kids who participate in tennis must prioritize how they
use their time," says Smith. He tells the story of one student who had a
conflict between an algebra class and a tennis match. Being proactive, she
worked out a way to attend the match and still keep up with her algebra class
lectures.
Despite the time and effort involved in extracurricular activities, there
are clear rewards in the form of fun and enhanced life skills. But there's also
the fact that college admission officers are generally impressed by a student's
extracurricular activities.
Parent Spot notes, "College admissions officers are looking for students
who have applied themselves academically during the high school years and have
used their free time in enriching ways... A roster of extracurricular
activities lets colleges know that teens have made a meaningful contribution to
something larger than themselves, can maintain long-term commitments and can
juggle their priorities successfully."
How do colleges view the extracurricular activities chosen by a high school
student? The activities offer colleges a snapshot of a student's personality
and interests. Parent Spot notes, "The activities that teens choose to
take part in outside of the classroom tell prospective schools much more than
grades on paper."
Overall, students who participate in extracurricular activities will likely
see an improvement in their academic and life skills, including discipline,
goal-setting, teamwork, accountability and responsibility. They will also find
themselves better prepared for post-secondary education. Ultimately, students
may even discover that the lessons they learned outside the classroom, in
basketball or chess club, help them cope with future challenges in the
workplace. For any extra curricular activity please visit our website allindiayellowpage.com.