Students And Extracurricualr Activities

Students and Extra-Curricular Activities

RIIIINNNNG! School is out and what are students doing these days? Most of them will be on their way home to go eat snacks and sit in front of the TV for hours, or a majority of students will be doing something they should not be doing, like drugs or drinking. Meanwhile, some students will be going to their after-school extra-curricular activities. I, myself, have seen great outcomes from being involved with activities, and also believe that students greatly benefit from attending after-school sports and clubs. Whether it is academically, socially, or physically, these programs help aid students lead an all-around improved life down the road.

I attended Normal Community West High School, where it was always a great day to be a Wildcat! During my four years of attendance, I have involved myself in a few clubs and sports. I was a wrestling cheerleader for a year, on the dance team for another year, and was also on the Minority Outreach Club for two years. Being a part of the cheerleading squad and the dance team really improved my health, and also helped me socially to meet some great new friends that I will never forget. However, the Minority Outreach Club was what ultimately helped me through my last two years of high school. The Minority Outreach Club was a sponsored club through my high school that was committed to providing community service to those in need throughout the Bloomington-Normal area. Mr. Fulford, our sponsor, was focused on showing the club members and me the meaning of Dignity, Integrity, and Pride, as well as using those three qualities in our everyday lives. I was elected vice-president my junior year and then voted president of the club my senior year, which, I must say, really pushed me to stay committed and be the best that I can be, while helping others around me do the same. Staying actively involved in the club really helped me keep my grades up, stay focused, and opened my eyes to learn more about my wonderful community.

The benefits from students involving themselves in extra-curricular activities and clubs are absolutely outstanding! Whether it is academically or socially, they help on building overall skills. Rachel Hollrah states that students that involve themselves in after-school activities receive better grades than those who do not. Many students who are involved in sports and clubs have the pressure of keeping their grades up by their school that they attend in order to still be involved in their activities, which I believe is a great rule to have! Erin Fowkes, counselor at the Battle Creek-Ida Grove High School, stated that students involved in activities at that high school cannot flunk more than two classes or they will be unable to participate. Therefore, the borderline students who thoroughly enjoy their activity work hard to pass their classes in order that they may continue to participate (qtd. in Hollrah).

Not only can these programs help academically, but they can also help students who are not so gifted academically to excel in the arts or in sports, which can tremendously boost self-esteem. A club or group can also be a great way to meet new people who are much more different than you. A lot of programs can bring students together who have completely different views and aspirations and break down the social wall of who “is supposed to” hang out with whom in schools. Mark, a senior who lives in Washington, DC, discovered this when he volunteered for a group that uses baseball as a way to bring special-education kids and kids with disabilities together with regular kids (Dowshen). I do believe that some kids want to join sports and clubs because they want to “belong.” For example, when I was in high school, most of the kids that were in sports were the “cool” kids, and the ones that were in clubs were the “nerdy” kids. I do not think that groups should be classified in those terms, but sadly they are. Even though there are some negative factors of sports and clubs, everyone has their own way of expressing themselves. So if you love being a part of the Environmental Club and taking care of your community, then go for it!

Extra-curricular activities also assist in reducing alcohol/drug abuse, and irresponsible sexual activity (Needlman). Binge drinking, drug use, and pregnancy rates have really increased among teens in our society, which is scary to think about. Sean P. Varano, Ph.D. says, "Young people who participate in sports and both community and church activities report significantly less serious delinquency as well as less problem drinking and risky sexual behavior. A healthy and measured dose of involvement in extracurricular activities is good for young people." I completely agree with this statement, and think that all adults should support involvement in extra-curricular activities for all ages.

I think that students can help other students get involved in school activities and try to help decrease these statistics. Parents can also help their kids out by encouraging