After a full day of classes, the temptation of many students might be to head home and kick back for a while in front of the tube before taking time for dinner and homework. But is this really the best they can do? Should teens take on more?

The indications are that teens who are involved in extracurricular activities actually do better than their non-involved peers in a number of areas. Instead of test scores falling and sleep being sacrificed because a student is taking on more activities, the opposite is true. Most studies show that students who are involved in extracurricular activities excel above their peers academically. But that’s not all.

According to a study published in Education, the benefits of teen participation in extracurricular activities go well beyond just filling up an already-busy schedule and having another line to add to the college application.

Benefits include having a sense of team spirit and belonging, personal pride and an understanding of the value of fairy play, an increased sense of honesty and trustworthiness, and, importantly, the prevention of drug and substance abuse-among others.

Involvement in extracurricular activities builds personal life skills. Extracurricular activities can help them by developing some leadership skills, some time management skills; it’s a good way to explore areas of interest that might lead to careers, so it might help them to select an area of study in college.
Certainly, a student’s involvement does show college officials that the person is more likely to be a balanced and well-rounded individual.

By: Margarita L. Salaria – Teacher III Limay National High School