Why Extra-Curriculars Are Essential For Teens

Here we are, wrapping up our third week of the school year, and we are off and running.  It is so good to have the hallways and classrooms of the high school filled with the sounds of discussion, laughter, and learning.  As students settle back into the routines of the school year and focus on starting off the academic year on a strong note, I believe it is essential to also keep a focus on the importance of all of the great opportunities for students to participate in outside of the classroom.

There are so many ways for high school students to get involved and participate beyond the traditional school day, and the research bears out the great benefits to students.  As we seem to have emerged from a very different and trying couple of years, now more than ever we should encourage students to engage in extracurricular activities.  

The unfortunate reality is that through those years we saw real and detrimental effects on student well-being as they lost access to these activities.  Students reported increased feelings of isolation and anxiety, having lost touch with friends, and becoming resentful of their circumstances.  

In a recent article from Crimson Education, a group dedicated to helping students reach their college admissions goals, they lay out a case for the many reasons for students to be involved in extracurricular activities.  These benefits range from improved academic performance to increased self-esteem and greater social opportunities to resume and application-building experiences.

Top 8 Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for High School Students

At SkyView, our staff encourages students to get involved and stresses the importance of creating the whole “high school experience”.  I invite you to do the same with your students… together we can help students create an engaging and memorable experience in high school.  Challenge them to get involved in school-sponsored extra-curriculars, attend high school functions such as dances or student cheering sections at games, start a club, and participate in countless other events throughout the year.  The benefits of this type of involvement for students make this a no-brainer.  

Chris Bridgham
HS Dean of Academics