We know how important academic success is when it comes to earning scholarships and getting accepted into top schools. But another key to achieving those big goals is participation in extracurricular activities: colleges and universities look at your resume to see that you are involved — and how you are involved.

While extracurriculars are an asset to a scholarship or college application, being involved also has great overall benefits. Whether it is through sports, theater, student government, robotics, interest clubs, choir, debate, or many others, extracurricular activities help shape individuals in innumerable positive ways.

Time Management

Students today are busy. They attend school for seven hours a day, and this is usually followed by clubs, sports, and volunteering. Students often eat dinner on-the-go and don’t start homework until just before bedtime. Briana (age 17) says that being involved in extracurricular activities like swimming, track, and her school’s gay-straight alliance helps her learn what she can and cannot put off due to limited time and reduced energy; because she is very involved outside of school, she has had to learn to prioritize.

When students are often involved in more than once activity, they have to learn how to set and maintain a schedule, how to ensure they have enough time for each venture, and how to accomplish the given tasks.

Leadership

Regardless of whether or not they are the captain of the cheerleading squad, the president of the student body, or in charge of the tech crew, students learn leadership skills through their involvement in extracurricular activities. Joze (age 17) has managed two of her high school’s shows and has had to demonstrate such abilities as “being able to make decisions that are the most beneficial for all parties involved, like being responsible for more than just myself or the people close to me.”

Students, under the supervision and guidance of trusted adults, learn skills and begin to take on roles that are often out of their comfort zone, tasks that push them to gain confidence and become great leaders both within that activity and in their everyday lives. Joze says that had she not become involved in theater, she “would probably just be another follower in society, another quiet kid in the back of the room.”

Life Skills

In addition to incomparable leadership skills, being involved in extracurricular activities also helps students develop other traits and expertise that will further help them in their everyday life. For instance, Jordan (age 12) has been studying taekwondo for seven years and sees it as “much more than just sparring and forms.” Through his practice, he also learns self-discipline and tenets to focus on in life: courtesy, indomitable spirit, integrity, perseverance, and self-control.

Additionally, cooperation is commonly cited as one of the top benefits of extracurricular activities. Kai (age 19) says, “Through choir, I learned to work together with others to create music. As a result, I now feel leagues more confident when it comes to working together in groups. Cooperation comes naturally, as I’ve learned how to allow group members to play to their own individual strengths without compromising the integrity of the group.”

While these are certainly qualities that can be talked about in academics or discussed through literature, they are learned on a much deeper level if they are actually experienced, which is precisely what extracurricular involvement allows.

Social

After-school clubs, sports, and activities are the perfect venue for students to socialize, as they are structured, they generally involve a group of same-age individuals, and they are supervised by an adult. These are opportunities for individuals to make great friends with people who share similar interests — and with people who may have different backgrounds, values, and beliefs.

Interestingly, Briana (age 17) notes that while she learned to be social through her involvement in various activities, she also learned that “not everyone stays your friend” and “it’s okay to not be ‘friends’ with every person.” She mentions that children are taught from a young age that they should try to be friends with everyone, and she has learned that that is simply not realistic — but that it is possible to still be teammates and to work together.

Likewise, Mari (age 15) says, “Playing high school soccer and rugby helps me build a variety of relationships with people and learn that even if I don’t like a person, I still will have to work with them and be a good teammate.”

This is an incredible life skill — being able to work alongside someone one may not be friends with — that students who participate in extracurricular activities learn at an early age.

Yes, students should focus on their academics: take challenging courses, explore different curriculum, strive to achieve high marks. But they should also be involved in a variety of clubs, sports, and activities that spark their interest, ignite their passion, and teach them immeasurable life skills — all while boosting that resume.