Want to Stand Out on College/Job Apps? Get Involved!

Want to Stand Out on College/Job Apps? Get Involved!

Before you know it, graduation will be here. After graduation comes college or a job search. If you want to stand out in a crowded field of college or job applicants, you’ll start building your extracurricular resume now.

Oooh – sounds all fancy, right? All that means is that you’ll get involved in some activities outside of class. It might be sports, drama, band, chess club, or yearbook. But they don’t have to be limited to school-related activities. Other things that will look really good on your transcript or résumé include volunteering, involvement with your church or youth group, politics (even if you can’t vote yet, you can help register voters and other campaign-related activities), ROTC, to name just a few.

What are the other benefits of extracurricular participation – besides enhancing your job and college applications? According to a report titled “Impacts of Participation in High School Extracurricular Activities on Early Adult Life Experiences: A Study of Iowa Graduates,” released by the University of Northern Iowa Center for Social and Behavioral Research, 92 percent of those surveyed said that participating in high school athletics improved their high school experience and 87 percent said the lessons they learned while participating in sports have helped them as adults.

Additionally, involvement in extracurricular activities offers these benefits:

1.      It gives quieter teens a chance to meet people with similar talents and interests.

2.      It teaches them time management and prioritizing.

3.      They learn the advantages of making long-term commitments.

4.      It raises their self-esteem by enabling them to make a contribution.

5.      It helps them build solid relationship skills.

The one caution is that teens don’t overdo it. They still need time to be kids – hanging out with friends, going to dances and football games, and, of course getting homework done.
Encourage your teen children to get involved and stay involved. It will benefit them in the long run.

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ALBERT MENSAH is a champion of opportunity and achieving one’s dreams. Rising from humble beginnings in Ghana, Africa, Albert has become one of the world’s leading student motivational speakers, regularly presenting to groups such as FCCLA, FFA, FBLA, DECA, 4-H, and numerous school assemblies and student council groups. Visit his website to book him to speak at your student assembly, career day, or state or national teachers’ conference.