By Sid Samel
Extracurriculars are one of the most important aspects of every student’s academic career. They are a way for students to pursue their own interests, often with fewer restrictions than normal classes with the added benefit of being surrounded by people who share that same interest. However, one of the worst things that any student can do is join too many clubs. While it may seem like a great idea at first to join as many extracurriculars as possible, joining too many can lead a whole slew of new problems for students to face.
First of all, you run the risk of having clubs take up all of your time. Clubs and extracurriculars can be extremely time-consuming. Between school-related extracurriculars and other activities, there may not be much time for other responsibilities, like homework or sleep. This can lead to many new problems for students, like fatigue, restless sleep, and even eventually falling behind in classes. According to a study done by Jerusha Conner from Villanova University and Denise Pope and Sarah Miles from the Stanford University Graduate School of Education, the maximum amount of time to spend on extracurriculars should be approximately twenty hours per week, or around two hours and forty-eight minutes per day.
Additionally, if one is juggling too many extracurriculars, they risk burning themselves out on a topic they once loved. Everyone knows the saying, “too much of a good thing”, and this is especially true when it comes to personal interests. While you might have once enjoyed something, if it eventually starts to take up all of your time, your interest in it may start to fade.
The main reason that students overload themselves with extracurriculars is that they hope that more extracurriculars will increases their chances of being accepted into a good college. However, it is important to remember that colleges prioritize student transcripts and test scores over extracurriculars. While having multiple extracurriculars can help with college applications, it is more effective to show dedication to a couple of extracurriculars rather than join many for a short period of time.
However, students should not stop participating in extracurriculars altogether. Most extracurriculars are often educational, useful, and, most of all, fun. Just be sure to know your limits.
