Being involved in your school is one of the most important things high school students can do. Although many students may not feel the need to join, involvement can have a serious impact on students.

Here at “The Castle”, there are a variety of clubs and organizations for students to join.    

Those who are active and involved in school usually have improved social skills, have more to put on their resume, and even have better academic performance.

Participating in school organizations and clubs can have many benefits. One of the benefits is that being involved can boost students’ confidence. According to an article written for the Best in Class Education Center,  The Confidence-Building Benefits of Extracurricular,  “For a child struggling with self-esteem, joining a team can boost their confidence. Extracurricular activities involving teamwork offer opportunities for children to learn how to cooperate with others, cheer for one another, accept praise, and handle disappointment.”

Participating in extracurricular activities can also improve leadership skills. Our Junior Class president, Kaleb Haynie, discusses how he’s improved his leadership skills since being more involved. 

“The biggest (leadership skill), I would say, is project management, just like figuring out how to plan stuff but also how to lead people.”

Those who are involved in extracurricular activities also have more to put on their resumes and college applications. Colleges and employers want to see that students are well-rounded, and one way to demonstrate this is to have multiple activities they are passionate about. In an article called “Importance of Extracurriculars,” it claims, “Participation in after-school activities shows the student’s ability to balance school with life.”

Research indicates that participation in school activities enhances students’ career readiness. According to Ohio State’s Involvement study, “Employers also rated highly-involved students as significantly more career ready than uninvolved or minimally-involved students.” 

Even if busy, students should still try their best to be involved. Our Senior Class Vice President, Jaxson Smith, states, “Unless you’re spending so much time to where you can barely breathe, I think it’s always great to join something else because it gives you a community.”

Another benefit of being involved is that students who are involved have been proven to do better in school. In a study called “The Relationship Between Extracurricular Activities And Academic Achievement,” it shows, “In the high school where this study was conducted, 62% of the students participated in at least one activity during 2006. Over the next two years, that number grew to 76.8%”

In “Importance of Extracurriculars,” it states that “Research shows that extracurricular participation improves academic performance, as evidenced by a correlation with higher standardized test scores and grade-point averages.”

Those who are involved in extracurricular activities are more likely to have several benefits from them. Students can grow and improve academically if they just take the time to sign up for a sport or club. So get out there and make your resume shine!