Participating in sports, theater, performing arts, academic clubs, student government, or community service groups throughout your career as a student is important for all teenagers and young people. Devoting time to your passions and finding things that interest you outside of your studies is a great way to make friends, build your skills, and seek leadership opportunities. Committing to regular activities outside of school is also a great way for you to work on your time management skills. Let’s talk about all of the benefits of extracurricular activities, including,
- Improving teamwork and communication skills
- Leadership opportunities
- Building relationships
- Boosting confidence
- Learning time management
Improves Teamwork and Communication Skills
Students who participate in extracurricular activities can improve their teamwork skills, which is important for many careers that you could be interested in later in life. Why is this effective? Well, activities like sports, clubs, and academic teams involve group projects or team-based tasks, which will offer you new opportunities to learn how you can best contribute in a group environment. Different personality types will contribute to a group in different ways. How do you contribute to the groups you are in? What strengths and skills do you bring to the table?
Being part of a team-driven activity exposes students to a collaborative environment where they must work together to achieve common goals, like winning a game or overcoming an obstacle. Committing to an after-school practice, meeting, or event involves many opportunities to exercise your teamwork skills. It will also require diligent communication. Students who participate in extracurricular activities learn to express their ideas, listen to others, and convey their thoughts. You can expect to hone these skills while benefiting from the opportunity to develop your communication skills, which are essential for successful teamwork.
Working in a team can sometimes lead to conflicts and disagreements. Participating in extracurricular activities provides students with opportunities to learn how to address conflicts productively, find compromises, and maintain a positive team dynamic. This kind of experience is also relevant to many work environments or careers that may be in your future. Learn how to solve problems, find middle ground, and keep a strong morale amongst your teammates. If you are interested in building your teamwork and communications skills, consider how joining these types of activities will give you the chance to solve problems in a group setting.
Leadership Opportunities
On a sports team, in an academic club, or in a theater group, students can take on leadership roles or contribute as team players, and all kinds of participation are important for effective teamwork. If you are interested in honing your leadership skills, getting involved in an extracurricular activity outside of school is a great place to start. Students can learn to lead by example, delegate tasks, and motivate peers by participating in different projects, clubs, teams, or groups that meet after school. You can also learn how to support and follow the lead of others.
Why is leadership important? According to a study done by Penn State, “Leadership skills allow children to have control of their lives and the ability to make things happen. Leadership instills confidence, and helps children solve problems creatively, work in a team, and work collaboratively with others.” Students who actively participate in leadership roles are able to feel confident in the autonomy they hold over their lives. Knowing that you have the skills and potential to make an impact can make a huge difference in a student’s confidence: not only will you feel confident, but you will gain new skills to carry you through a variety of career paths.
Building Relationships
Extracurricular activities can provide opportunities to build a network of peers with similar interests. This network can be valuable in your future academic or career endeavors. A strong network is also useful for seeking advice and support. After-school activities are a great way to get to know your peers and make friends! Whether you are attending meetings, practicing together, planning events, or learning new skills, new relationships will blossom. Get to know other students!
Extracurricular activities often involve students from diverse backgrounds and with different perspectives. Working with groups and teams exposes students to various viewpoints and helps them appreciate diversity, fostering inclusivity and adaptability. If you want to expand your worldview, get to know some students from different cultures, perspectives, or backgrounds.
Building relationships through extracurricular activities is an important part of creating the support systems that you need. Bonding over your struggles (like academic pressure or the demands of learning new things together) and learning to work together creates trust, understanding, and camaraderie. Creating a network that is built on strong relationships will give you a leg up in the future. If you are looking to stand out in strong academic environments, then joining clubs, displaying your passions, and your capacity to overcome challenges, will mean a great deal.
Boost Your Confidence
While you are learning new skills, making new friends, or achieving your goals, extracurriculars will help boost your confidence. Whether you are winning a sports game, mastering a musical number, or completing a challenging project, achieving your goals provides a sense of accomplishment and reinforces your belief in yourself.
Regularly receiving positive feedback from coaches and peers will improve your confidence as well. Constructive criticism and recognition for your efforts and achievements can really help your self-esteem and confidence. In your after-school events, you will face obstacles and challenges. Overcoming the hurdles in front of you, whether you are mastering a new piece of music, conquering fear on stage, learning a new skill on your sports team, or trying something for the first time, builds resilience and confidence. Extracurricular activities teach students that they can overcome adversity with confidence and determination.
Time Management
Many extracurricular activities require students to manage their time effectively so that they can balance their academic commitments, practice or rehearsal schedules, and personal life. Learning to be disciplined as you make an effort to get everything done is also a big transition for students in their middle school years. As your schedule becomes busier, and as your school workload gets more intense, adding something “extra” to your schedule may seem intimidating, but the benefits we have described in this article will make the adjustment and discipline worth it!
Signing up for an extracurricular activity has many benefits. Taking advantage of opportunities to grow outside of the classroom can set you apart from other students, and offer opportunities to make new friends. If you are seeking opportunities to improve your leadership skills, use your strengths, and master your communication skills, then look for clubs, teams, and groups made up of other students who share your interests. Many students find that integrating their passions into their daily lives and finding groups of people who share the same passions makes a huge difference in their motivation at school, their confidence in learning new things, the quality of their relationships, and their time management skills.
If you are interested in finding an extracurricular activity to thrive in, look into the clubs, teams, and groups that are active on your campus. If you want to join a club that doesn’t exist, start one yourself! Taking the leap to find the activity and event that you can enjoy is a big first step! If you are looking to add an extracurricular activity to your schedule but struggle with time management, you might consider finding a counselor, advisor, or tutor who can help you achieve it all. FLEX College Prep’s expert counselors and tutors can help you! Start improving your teamwork and communication skills, finding leadership opportunities, building relationships, boosting your confidence, and improving time management now!
Students need to stand out in the competitive admissions landscape. FLEX College Prep is a team of the best strategists in the industry and takes a holistic approach to ensure students use their pre-college years in intentional, enriching, and personally satisfying ways. Since 2001, we’ve worked with families to help students unlock their potential and find happiness, meaning, and success in college and beyond.