This article is the fourth of four in a series discussing student mental health.
Many high schoolers nationwide are constantly under insane amounts of pressure.
There is pressure to do well academically and to have the highest grades and GPA in classes. There is pressure to be in as many extracurriculars as possible to boost college applications. There is pressure to work a job and to engage in hobbies. Everywhere teenagers go, there are pressures to be involved in as much as possible.
Many teens try to do everything in the pursuit of padding out their college applications and I myself can admit that I have struggled with this aspect of life. But here’s the thing—you don’t have to be involved in every single club and extracurricular. In fact, it is impossible for you to be involved in everything. Though that fact may sting for some, including myself, at the end of the day it is really okay not to do everything. In fact, doing less can help you more.
Many people in high school see extracurricular activities as ways to boost their favor on college applications easily. I have seen many people try to join and participate in as many clubs and activities as they possibly can. They think a list of extracurriculars that are longer than everyone else’s will mean that it will set them apart from the rest of all the applicants to whatever college they try to apply to. In my opinion, two rebuttals are available to refute the logic behind this course of action.
As I see it, colleges want to learn about an applicant’s character through their admissions process. This means that they value the quality of the application and not the quantity or size of the extracurriculars.
Trying to be involved in everything means that the activities you are a part of receive less effort and attention. Colleges want to know what you care about and what you choose to invest your time in. Doing extracurriculars just for the sake of doing extracurriculars doesn’t display who you are as a person.
Joining the board game club or knitting club just to put it on your application (as fun as board games or knitting may be) doesn’t show colleges your values, qualities, or aspirations. If you can’t display who you are as a person, you can’t stand out in the sea of other applicants trying to get into the colleges you applied to. If you can’t stand out, then why should colleges take it upon themselves to let you into their institution?
Choosing to invest your time, energy, and effort into a select amount of extracurricular activities can display what truly matters to you. It also shows that you can commit yourself to something and carefully choose what is worthy of your time.
In my opinion, using your application as a way to display the depth of your character is far more effective than using it as a way to create a massive list of things you’ve been a part of that doesn’t say anything about you as a person. So, in conclusion, not only is it impossible to be involved in everything but being involved only in a select few character-defining extracurriculars can be far more effective than a long but shallow list of accomplishments.
