How Extracurricular Activities Affect The Development Of Human Beings

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,

Erikson theorizes that in such a period, adolescents have certain tasks, one of which is identifying who they are. An individual successfully completes the task by staying true to his or her self, whereas when a person fails that stage, it leads to role confusion; consequently creating a weak sense of self. (Block 2011). The stage also entails a variety of personal challenges and limitations faced as well as a series of needs to be met, including: attention, guidance, independence, stability, and acceptance, among other needs. Meeting an adolescent’s needs is fundamental to their healthy development and personal growth. Nevertheless, adolescence remains as puzzling of a period in time for both the teens experiencing it, as well as for the individuals surrounding them, watching them as they navigate through the trials that adolescence brings them.

In the United States, 57 percent of high school students participate in at least one kind of extracurricular activity (Bureau UC). Through extracurricular activities, youth have opportunities to develop very important life skills. Through participating in an activity that requires time outside of the normal school hours, students can learn to manage their time more efficiently. They must also develop rigorous study habits to perform well in the classroom as well as in their chosen activity or activities. Through team oriented activities and clubs, students must learn to work with others and attain interpersonal skills, along with a solid work ethic. Such activities provide a different type of environment than the classroom provides, and help them to become comfortable in various situations. There are many proven benefits when teens participate in extracurricular activities; such benefits include improved physical well-being, higher self-esteem, academic excellence, important social skills, and preparation to succeed not only school, but other settings as well.

With respect to Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development, the adolescence is the stage of identity versus role confusion. He also believes that identity as the significant personality achievement of adolescence is an essential step toward becoming a productive happy adult (Feldman, 2006). I remember so vividly my high school experience; especially

Adolescent is a disconcerting time when there are many life changes emotionally, physically, socially and psychologically. There are unrealistic expectations which lead to disappointment and rejection. The maturity level of adolescents makes them feeling life is not fair and things will never change to benefit them. Erikson’s identity vs. role confusion is an example of how developing into owns identity can be challenging, especially when learning how to transition into adulthood. Adolescence is one of the most importance stages in life where the mind and body goes through varies changes. When changes cause impairment or interfere with activities of daily living it results in

Culture, ethnicity, family, sexuality, and society are all factors that can influence a person’s identity. A combination of all these elements usually result in the successful discovery of self-identity. Preadolescents and adolescents often find themselves in a constant battle attempting to find who they are or who they want to be. Adolescents are faced with questions like, What do you want to be when you grow up? What colleges are you looking into? What are your plans after high school?. In a normal process of growth, teens experiment with new activities in order to find their identity, but this is not the case for every teen. Some adolescents do not go through the normal process of experimentation for various reasons.

Many students become involved in extracurricular activities and it really enriches the high school experience. Staying after school for something you enjoy can make it all worthwhile. Baseball, Soccer, Spanish Club, SCA, etc. are all extraordinary activities students stay after school for. Although extracurricular activities can make grades suffer, and stress students out, schools shouldn’t control the after school involvement of students because it could help develop a work ethic, lead to getting scholarships and help build a college resume.

Adolescence is generally known to be a tumultuous stage in every individual’s life. In this particular stage, bodies are changing rapidly, emotions are unfamiliar and unexplainable, and refraining from succumbing to peer pressure is more challenging than ever. According to Erik Erikson, in this stage, individuals ages 12-18 are seeking to establish an identity; a stage also known as identity vs. role confusion. Erickson theorizes that in such a stage, adolescents have certain tasks, one of which is identifying who they are.

For the past twelve years I have been a middle years teacher at Leila North Community School teaching grades 7 and 8. Here at West Kildonan I am teaching Social Studies, Geography and History. I am enjoying the new challenges associated with teaching a new age group and look forward to the opportunity to get more involved. So far my only extracurricular involvement is with Wolverine Football but I'm sure the future will see me involved in other

Adolescence is a time for self- discovery. According to Erikson, adolescents seek their own identity, sorting through the traditions and values of their families and cultures. He said that this crisis is resolved with identity achievement, when adolescents have reconsidered the goals and values of their parents and culture, accepting some and discarding others, forging their own identity. Identity achievement; Erickson’s term for the attainment of identity, or the point at which a person understands who he or she is as a unique individual, in accord with past experiences and future

Kidwell, Dunham, and Richard (1995) investigated Erikson’s theory that adolescent identity exploration is associated with a variety of symptoms, such as fluctuations in ego strength, mood swings, rebelliousness, and heightened physical symptoms. They sampled a total of 82 high school students (43 males, 39 females) between the ages of 14 and 17. These students were academically superior high school students who attended the Florida State University Summer Science and Mathematics Camp during the summers of 1988 (30 students) and 1989 (52 students). The minimum requirements for admission to the program included percentile ranks of 90 or more on standardized

During adolescence, individuals explore and establish a sense of their own identity, which involves thinking about what they want in life, what kind of person they want to be, and who they really are (Erikson, 1968). Although identity development is a lifelong process, the concept of their identity is mainly formed and crystalized during adolescence. Individuals often find themselves trying to become independent, but also worrying about the responsibilities that come with the independence; adolescents think about their values, the directions they choose to pursue in life, such as “vocation, interpersonal relationships, community involvement, ethnic-group membership, and expression of one’s sexual orientation, as well

The fifth stage of Erikson’s development framework occurs during adolescence. It is characterized by the developmental crisis of identity vs. role confusion. During these years, it is important for students to establish who they are in our society; they need to define their sexual, political, religious, and vocational identities. If students are not allowed to explore these identities in a quality manner, they may spend years confused about whom they are and where they

Surveys show that around eighty percent of students participate in extracurricular activities. Participating in an extracurricular activity involves balance between the activity and academics while gaining positive impacts. Many people do not see or understand the importance of extracurricular activities. Critics might argue that extracurricular activities may harm student academic success, but what they do not realize is the benefits from extracurricular activities. The following argument started when the question was raised of how students were spending their leisure time and what they gained from their involvement. After school hours are the peak time for bad behaviors and crime for students. However, extracurricular activities provide a shelter for students for fun activities. Extracurricular activities contribute positively to student academic success by teaching responsibility, time management, and team building skills.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical examination of the research by Anne R. Pierce regarding the effects of early educational and extra-curricular activities on the overall development of children (Pierce, 2002, p.39-43). The three flaws analyzed from the article Who’s Raising Baby? Challenges to Modern-Day Parenting, are the lack of supporting data analysis, presence of confounding variables, and lack of statistical evidence to support the claim. The strength of the research is found in the use of multiple credible sources to support the claim that child development is hindered by early pressures from education and auxiliary activities.