Everyone who goes through high school knows that the best memories aren’t limited to what happens in the classroom. For many a large part of their high school experience involves extracurriculars! 

Kearsley High School offers an array of different extracurricular activities. There are leadership and service focused groups such as student council, freshman mentors, or National Honors Society. There are competition centered programs such as future problem solvers, DECA, or quizbowl. Sports ranging from our dance team or golf to basketball or soccer. On top of this all there are even more fun after school activities such as theater, gaming club, and so much more!

With so many options, it can be difficult to figure out which clubs to join. It can be easy to forget what opportunities are available. Luckily there are a few resources to help students decide. The athletics office can often provide a list of clubs and their advisors or clubs often hang posters advertising their clubs throughout KHS’ hallways! However, by far the most popular way is simply finding someone who is already part of your desired extracurricular and getting more information through them. 

Senior, Ava Salem had this to say when asked about how she decided which clubs to join, “I looked at what my friends were doing and found what I thought would be good opportunities. Just talking to people really got me involved, and people who know me would recommend different things for me to try!”

One thing that all extracurricular activities have in common is that they help teach individuals lifelong skills. Whether it’s developing perseverance in swim, working on communication skills as a freshman mentor, or building communication skills on student council, each club has valuable lessons built into each activity or event.

More than practical or lifelong skills, extracurriculars also help students grow as individuals. 

When asked about what she has gained from extracurriculars, sophomore, Alina Lazo stated, “I’ve already gained a lot through them because I used to be a very quiet person and I feel like joining these clubs have helped me get out of my comfort zone and just talk to people and express myself.”

While they can be incredibly beneficial, there are a few potential downsides to joining clubs that students should be aware of. Freshman, Landin Struck-Curtis had this to say, “A con is that you lose a lot of your free time after school, you can’t do your homework. So you have to find other times to do it, which is usually late at night.”

Maintaining a balance between school, extracurriculars, and your personal life is key in determining the benefit gained from an individual’s experience. There is such a thing as too many clubs or sports that an individual can get overwhelmed with everything and may no longer be able to enjoy the experience or gain anything true form any of them. Lazo mirrors this sentiment by stating, “One of the cons is probably all of the work that goes into them and how determined you have to be to get stuff done, because for some of these clubs it can be very tiring. You’re doing stuff for a very long time and trying to get it done and it can be very disappointing if it doesn’t go the way that you want it to.”

A successful balance, however, allows for the benefits of joining extracurricular activities to greatly outweigh the potential cons. Salem commented, “Some of my best friends I met through clubs. Some people I was already close with I was able to only grow closer because of what I’m involved in. I’ve found adults who I can put a lot of faith in and talk with like Mrs. Amanda or Mr. Doyon because they served as advisors.” Both Lazo and Struck-Curtis similarly described the fact that their extracurriculars have helped them meet new people they wouldn’t have on their own.

Participating in extracurricular activities on top of regular class work may not be for everyone, but for those who are able to maintain a balance they can be a large and wonderful part of their learning experience. Clubs or sports help push individuals out of their comfort zone and toward becoming a better version of themselves, only helping to prepare students for life outside of school. So in any small way you’re able, it’s encouraged to try and be involved in your school community and take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. You may make some lifelong friends, or have a lot of fun along the way!