Why You Should Take High School Clubs Seriously

Joining high school clubs is a great way to jump start your professional and academic success. Don’t underestimate the importance of high school clubs and extracurriculars when it comes to getting experience that will help you in high school, college, and beyond.
 

There’s a wide range of extracurriculars available at most high schools, from sports to Student Council — a favorite among admissions officers since it teaches students so many valuable skills. For example, you’ll learn the value of teamwork, how to deal with problems effectively and courteously, the importance of communication, the need to think outside-of-the-box, and the benefit of actively listening to others while welcoming new ideas and possible changes.
Remember, though, that it’s most important to find a team or club that you enjoy being a part of. No matter what extracurriculars you participate in, you’ll learn more about yourself and ultimately become more a more competitive applicant during the college admissions process.

The skills you learn in high school clubs and extracurriculars will make your application stand out to college admissions officers. When you apply to colleges you’ll be asked about how you spent your time in high school both inside and outside of the classroom. During interviews and in your application essays, don’t recite your resume word for word; instead, be prepared to use your extracurriculars to talk about the specific challenges and trials you faced and overcame, and how those have helped shape you and your decisions today. It’s one thing to say you’re well-rounded, and another thing to back it up with concrete examples, depth, and personality.

The skills you learn in high school extracurriculars can prove extremely valuable even after college admissions. Though you may not go on to hold a governmental leadership position like you did in high school Student Council, it’s important to know how to effectively communicate with others and being a cooperative team member no matter what your post-grad life holds.
Enthusiasm, creative thinking, and effective communication are the stuff success is made of, during school and whatever you go on to do. By learning to implement these things early on, you will not only be able to reach your goals, but to exceed your own expectations. So starting in high school, find something you’re passionate about and get involved!