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September 5, 2005
Use care in building your high school resume
By Oscar Ramirez
I
used to think that as long as I had good grades, I should not worry about
anything else regarding high school. Well, let me tell to you how wrong I was.
It’s
not only about solving algebraic equations, putting an essay together or
learning the laws of physics. Your involvement in activities outside the high
school curriculum is as important – if not more – as your academic
performance.
But
what do you actually know about extracurricular activities?
You
may be questioning the importance or relevance of extracurricular activities. I
mean, why should we get involved in them? What benefits do they bring? What benefits will
they bring in the future?
First
of all, you should know that the abilities you learn while participating in
outside-the-classroom activities will help you throughout your high school life
and even when you pursue a job.
Extracurricular
activities help you develop leadership. Most of these actions will put you in
situations in which you will be forced to make decisions. Soon you’ll find out
that the pressure of extracurricular activities is beneficial to build your
character and will affect the way you approach school and personal issues.
Also,
you will soon learn organizational skills. For example, you might be asked to
run a school event. Maybe you can finally employ your math talents and become a
treasurer. Enjoy yourself writing or drawing cartoons for the school paper. You
will surely find a use for your talent in the vast list of extracurricular
activities. No talent? Well, it’s never too late to master one.
Another
worthy – and probably the most important – reason to engage in some
extracurricular activity is that your participation looks absolutely good on
your college applications.
Generally,
admission officers think that people with this kind of work on their resume are
responsible and can manage to maintain a long-term commitment by consent. So if
you are at least considering going to college, you should definitely join the
chess club, become part of the student paper, work your way into the school
government or simply involve yourself in any organization at your high school.
But
don’t go all the way off the curriculum.
The
most common mistake people make is to join every
possible school activity there is. If you enjoy it and can do it, ignore
this and keep it up!
There
is nothing wrong whatsoever with being a multitasking young person. However, if
you notice your grades going down, or you realize that you haven’t been
attending the school paper meetings because it clashes with the day you are
supposed to be helping the elderly after band practice, you better scale back a
bit.
It
is important for you to focus on what fits you.
You
can’t be interested in everything. Narrow your choices by making a list of
potential activities and putting the ones that best fit your interests at the
top.
Then
again, you shouldn’t completely limit yourself to the familiar. Always try
something new. Ask yourself if you want to be a support person in some group. If
your GPA allows it, you might as well use it to your advantage and become an
Honor Society member.
Even
if you are just looking to do spend your spare time wisely, I’m sure you’ll
find something in store for you. But remember, start with simple roles inside
entities and work your way up the pyramid.
Don’t
expect to become school president or captain of the football team in the first
few weeks. Being a member is a good start and it often gives you a better and
more relaxed perspective – without the
responsibility and leadership required of a president.
Another
benefit of extracurricular activities is that they serve you most of the time as
a social outlet.
It’s
good to interact with your peers, but it’s even easier to interact with those
that share the same interests you do. You never know who might be your employer
in the future.
In
high school it might not matter if you’re a loner, but in the real world, you
need to eat and for that you need a job. It would be foolish not to recognize
that acquaintances can be helpful in that field.
If
all the college crap and social interaction don’t sound convincing enough, one
of the obvious reasons to join extracurricular activities is that they give you something better to do than just sleeping or staring at the ceiling.
You
have enough time right now. Use it wisely. Later in life you will probably be
bound to a job or marriage. Have fun. Experience new grounds. Start to build a
network of people.
It’s
through experience that you really learn. Books will not teach you how to
interact with the “real deal.”
Drench
yourself with the healthy stress extracurricular activities bring. Whether you
want to make your college application more appealing or your personal life more
exciting, there is always a good reason to get off the curriculum.
To read all of The Tattoo's Insider's Guide to High School, click here
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