Extracurricular Activity Aiding Positive Development

A study published in 2007 focused on “high poverty high schools,” where at least half the students were on free or reduced lunch, it showed that the students that did not participate in extracurricular activities graduated from high school 69 percent of the time while students who did participate in extracurricular activities graduated 82.7 percent of the time (“Extracurriculars Boost High School Graduation Rates”). Furthermore students who participate in sports or extracurricular activities compared to those who do not participate or who have not been involved in extracurricular activities show; higher grades and attainment, improved personal confidence and self esteem, greater connections with school, attachments and support from adults,

I conducted an interview with Dr. Martinez, the current principal of Early College High School explained that many of clubs that the school creates have become co-curricular activities or “classes” for two reasons: it easier to fund and to find a coordinator. Up until our interview, I was not aware of this process. However, I have witnessed this first hand as soccer was once an actual school sport, but it eventually became a class. Furthermore, Dr. Martinez noted that it is easier to get an extracurricular activity approved through either CCC or OCC than the school’s own district. Although the students do get to take part in an activity they have some interest in, it is rather considered a class rather than an extracurricular rather than an actual class. This becomes problematic because when students begin to apply for colleges, they are unable to consider as extracurricular because they are taking part in the extracurricular during the school schedule and not outside the classroom. Jeff Brenzel, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Yale University, explains in an interview posted by CollegeBoard, he explains that many colleges prefer students that are well rounded such that they are doing well in academics and involved in an organization. However, he explains that they prefer students that are involved in a organization that they are interested regardless of how popular or how bizarre the organization. This then

Extracurricular activities are considered an important part of school life at OSHS because of the positive qualities gained from

Participation in extracurricular activities is considered an important part of a pupil's scholastic life. Activities include marching band, choir, robotics, Yearbook, Yes Club, and Cheerleading.

Some of the extra-curricular activities I am involved in include Science National Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Amnesty International. These three particular activities are helping me shape the person I am today. The amount of work one has to put into these activities reflects the amount of work I will one day put into my future studies and work. In these extra-curricular activities I am expected to participate with my community outside of school. This has and will continue to help me be more social with others, be comfortable working in teams, improve my grades, and be informed about certain happenings.

If you asked my teachers about extracurriculars, they would say they take students’ time away from homework. If you asked me, I would say they keep students’ motivated in school and spark their interest. Almost anywhere you go, kids involved in sports are referred to as “student athletes.” Being a student should always come first, but athletics holds importance too. For many of us, sports are our whole lives. For me that is definitely true right now. Athletics have played a huge role in helping me develop through my adolescent life, but I am not sure they need to continue to play as large of a role going into my future.

• Extracurricular activities, where students can share their talents with others, learn new skills such as sports, arts and science activities.

High school is all about being involved in as many clubs or sports a person can be in. The NFHS has conducted a study on students’ engagement and sense of belonging. The study said, “Looking at social adjustment in making the transition from middle school to high school found involvement in sports helped students with friendships during the transition” (NFHS). The adjustment period from middle to high school can be a hard one, and sports is one way to make it easier. Another point the study talks about is how involvement in different activities promotes a sense of belonging and higher academic success. The study said,” Involvement in a moderate number of activity domains, among academic/leadership groups, arts activities, clubs, and sports, promotes a greater sense of belonging at school, increased academic engagement, and higher academic performance as measured by grade point average according to a study of urban, ethnically diverse students (40.7% Latino; 16.8% African-American, 12.7% Asian American; 11.2% Caucasian, and 18.5% other)” (NFHS). The study is saying that students playing in sports and participating in clubs are doing better academically. High school sports is just one way students can become successful

Extracurricular activities may include sports, student council, student newspaper, music, art, theater, and other miscellaneous clubs. According to Lunnenburg “Extracurricular activities serve the same goals and functions as the required and elective courses in the curriculum”(Massoni). Such after school activities allow students to utilize the knowledge and experiences that they have gained inside the classroom. Students who join extracurricular activities, for example, basketball or the high school musical are not expected to be the next LeBron James or Ronald Reagan, but being a part of those activities will benefit them in the long run. Students who partake in extracurricular activities have reduced behavioral problems (Owings). When playing sports, such as, soccer, tennis, golf, basketball they will show discipline and commitment in the drills, practices, and routines. They have a responsibility to show up, put forth there best effort, and work in harmony with their teammates. It’s the best time to do so given between the ages of nine and seventeen are when adolescents begin to make their own decisions and control their behavior (). Lastly, partaking in extracurricular activities provides students the ability to make inroads with their academic work. Research provided through the United States Department of Education (USDE), showed that students who are involved in extracurricular activities are three times more likely to have a grade point average of a 3.0 or higher (Owings). Higher than students who chose not to partake in extracurricular

Extracurriculars are an amazing source for meeting new people, obtaining new experiences, and helping out your community. My activities, ranging from National Honor Society to theater, have taught me how to balance a schedule efficiently, problem solve within a group and with myself, and be more supportive of others and the betterment of my community.

In order to help focused on graduating and prepare them for college and real life experiences, I believe that it is important to allow them to participate in hobbies and activities that they enjoy. Although some students enjoy education and obtaining knowledge, other students only go to school for two reasons: they are forced by the government and their parents and/or they enjoy participating in the activities provided by the school. Though some may argue that extracurricular activities, such as sports, are a distraction to primary reason that students are enrolled into schools, I believe that it is important to keep extracurricular activities implemented in schools.

Extracurricular activities offered in school have many benefits for students. All schools generally offer sports and other activities after school, but not all schools offer extracurricular activities like band and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) during the school day. These programs, and other programs that are similar, can be important in many students’ lives and leave a positive impact on them that will last a lifetime. It can equip them with skills that will help them later on in life and prepare them for the future. “One great benefit of your teen being involved in extracurricular activities is that they will learn about time management and prioritizing things in their life.” (Burgess). This is only one of the many benefits

So why are extracurricular activities important? Extracurricular activities shape how a person acts within him or herself, in the community, and their performance in school. Schools should highly encourage every student to be in some type of activity (Hollrah).

Kikimo Fujita “The Effects of Extracurricular Activities on the Academic Performance of Junior High School Students”

Extracurricular activities are a supplement to traditional learning curriculum and act as a key factor in post-secondary admissions, future employment, and academic success. Children living in low-income households have a decreased likelihood of participating in extracurricular activities due to a variety of factors. According to Statistics Canada, low-income cut-offs (LICOs) act as an “indicator of the threshold beyond which a family will devote a significant portion of its income to the necessities of life” (Robson, 2013, p. 195). Factors such as affordability, lack of parental involvement, and increased familial responsibilities hinder the ability of LICO students to participate in extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities are defined as voluntary activities which take place outside of regular school hours and which supplement academic learning and curriculum. An academic study conducted by Fredricks & Simpkins (2011) as well as those conducted by other scholarly researchers have demonstrated a positive correlation between participation in extracurricular activities and academic success. Although defining academic success can be controversial and subjective, for the purpose of this essay it will be defined as the ability to grasp and retain educational concepts and eventually apply those concepts real-world scenarios. Academic success and extracurricular activities go hand-in-hand because exploration outside the concrete curriculum gives students the ability to apply educational skills to the environment outside of formal schooling. This essay will argue that because LICO children are less likely to participate in extracurricular activities due to high costs, lack of parental involvement, and greater familial responsibilities, they are less likely to achieve academic success.