Some thoughts on Extracurricular Activities
One of the reasons some college counselors prefer to start working with their students early on during their high school years is because of the term referred to in our realm as the “evolution in extracurricular activities.” What exactly does this mean? Well, in simple terms, it means that a student should build his or her resume with sound judgement. A resume should not be a compilation of random activities where the student dedicates little amounts of time to different organizations or activities with no vision or sound purpose in the development of their high school career.
In other words, in the affirmative aspect of the sense, a resume should be the compilation of activities with a purpose that have built over time into meaningful experiences that will help them achieve their future goals. Yes, in fact, this sounds very technical and professional, but this is just the type of environment that has been developing around college admissions.
However, do not be afraid if this is not the type of student you realize has progressed through high school. Of course, the previously mentioned scenario is the ideal panorama, but if this is not the case, there is no need for panic. The important aspect of this situation is to give value to what you have decided to dedicate your spare time to. For example, I had a student who thought about studying Medicine and engaged in Voluntary Cataract Surgeries to help and oversee procedures and participated in a week long summer program at Harvard in Medicine, later to find out Medicine was not his calling. These activities, even if not part of his preparation to be the career he later decided on, did add a humanistic value to his application that colleges admired.
Whatever your case might be, the important aspect about extracurricular activities is to think about what you enjoy doing and to do it with a purpose and passion, dedicating time and effort to your activities. If they contribute to support your academic major, it would be wonderful because they provide a deeper learning perspective of what awaits you as a professional in the field. If they do not, make sure they contribute to helping you shape and mold your personal character, hoping to bring about positive changes in this world.
“We are meant to be creators of change.”