A stronger mind
Academic rigors such as in-depth reading and complex problem-solving go far to strengthen the mind, but extracurricular activities will take this mind strengthening even further. High-endurance sports, for example, will train students to maintain patience and resilience in the face of intense difficulty.

Training in professional skills
These activities can also work to build professional skills that a classroom alone cannot always foster. A leadership-oriented group such as ASB, for example, will help students to learn essential skills in management and delegation, while Drama Club will provide additional public speaking practice for students. Sports most often have the effect of fostering strong team-building skills and training students in holding long-term goals. In short, extracurricular activities can arm students with many of the skills future employers will be looking for.

A wider social circle
Extracurriculars are not solely about imparting stronger professional skills and supplementing education. These programs are also fun and offer students the opportunity to spend time with others of similar interests. Students can meet friends from different social or age groups by joining a sports team or student government.

Better time management
Ironically enough, many students find that adding more commitments to their already coursework-filled schedules has the effect of improving time management. The student who is busy with coursework but also needs to balance two other extracurricular activities is more likely to plan out time dedicated to each activity and less likely to procrastinate during downtimes. An extracurricular activity might even have the effect of “recharging” the brain after a day of rigorous schoolwork, allowing students to return to homework assignments with a refreshed mind.

Exploration of interests
Extracurriculars allow students to pursue interests outside of a standardized academic context. A student with a flair for mathematics or art, for example, might become involved in special projects outside of the classroom to enhance the school. This decision could help them decide if math or design will be something to pursue in higher education. Students can also use these activities to explore interests they’ve never encountered, exposing students to a more diverse range of interests in students.