Human beings are multifaceted beings who need growth in all aspects of life. For most people their early life is spent in school which mostly majors on academics and not other aspects of life.
However to have an all rounded individual student requires to also participate in the extracurricular activities. In this post we look at benefits that a student can achieve by getting involved in life outside the classroom.
Table of Contents
What are the extracurricular activities?
As the name suggests these are activities that students carry out in school that are outside the normal curriculum and syllabus coverage. The activities will not be tested in any examination or evaluated as part of the academic requirements.
Examples of extracurricular activities in schools
Some of the extra co-curricular activities include.
- Participating in games and sports
- Drama and artwork
- Student leadership positions
- Community services around the institution community
- Getting involved in science and technology exhibition
- School clubs and societies
- Participating in religious activity and community
- Fitness and wellness clubs like karate clubs
- Entrepreneurship clubs among others.
Benefits of extracurricular activities to students.
These activities and others that an institution may provide for students to participate are important for an all rounded learner. Some of the key benefits that those students who participate can benefit from are.
Leadership skills
Most of these activities will require someone to be guiding and leading others on what to do and when. This means leadership skills will be needed. A student who takes these positions can start to groom themselves to become leaders later in the community.
Those students who are elected into student leadership positions like student president later on in life find themselves being later in the country. The school can teach leadership learning skills.
Enhancing Academic Performance
Extracurricular activities complement academics rather than a distraction as most people look at it. Skills learned in the field like team work, leadership critical thinking and creativity can be implemented in class to improve performance.
Again learners can use time management and discipline learned in the games and sports to manage their academic aspect of their life.
Networking and improving on social skills
Activities outside the classroom help the learner improve on social skills. It helps students to interact with learners who are in different classes, levels, courses and even institutions. This means other than their classmates they can create a connection with other students.
This helps grow the social group and friend pool that they have which can be used both in and after school.
Self discovery, development and growth
Games, sports, arts clubs and others help students to discover their talents outside the classroom setting. It builds confidence, character and positive self-image that can be used to tackle stress and life misfortunes.
Students who participate in co-curricular activities learn how to handle wins and lose and how to control emotions.
Health wellness
Most of the outside classroom activities involve physical movement which help the learner to exercise their body. This improves mood, relieves stress, maintains good mental wellness among other benefits of exercise.
Cultural diversity awareness
Activities such as art, drama, clubs and societies expose learners to diverse cultures from different communities. They can prepare and present a traditional dance or prepare local meals as per a specific community which enables them to learn.
Again as they make more friends they get to learn their culture even if they are not in class or in the field.
Building a Well-Rounded person
A human being should be all rounded in all aspects of life. Extracurricular help to reach and involve all human faculties for development. Learners can grow physically, emotionally, culturally, socially, economically and academically from these activities.
This will also help them when they leave school and they enter into the world of work and business. They will be able to cope with challenges that are in the world.
Exploring non academic passions and career paths
Life is not all about academics and we are not all blessed the same. Some students are good at games and sports, drama, arts among others and they don’t have to follow the academic path to succeed in life.
The opportunity to participate in these activities at an early age allows them to recognize the talent and follow them.
Time Management
Extra-curricular activities means they must be planned and done outside the classroom allocated time. The learner has to know how to manage the time for those activities and do other assignments given for the class.
This is important since it trains them how to balance their time between class time and other activities. To manage both they need to learn time management skills. The skill can be used later in life after school.
Conclusion
School should be a learning ground for both academic and life skills for an all rounded individual. Learners should be encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities in school and not look at them as a waste of time.
School management should provide room for diverse co-curricular activities that students can be involved in during their stay in school.
This will help to occupy the energetic student and they will utilize that energy to useful endeavours rather than get involved into drugs and other antisocial activities.