Navigating High School Clubs

I vividly remember last September, when I started high school as a freshman. Quite a surprise! Unlike middle school, there was no gradual pick-up of pace. Almost instantaneously, I was caught up in the whirlwind of course work, tests, sports, clubs, and events. I dived in willingly, eager to learn, try new things, and make new friends. The freedom to explore was absolutely energizing. I was so excited!

Very quickly though, I discovered that high school can easily become overwhelming if I try to do it all without any direction. Time, energy, and brainpower are finite resources. I have to budget carefully so as not to exhaust them. I also have to balance my commitments, so that my growth in one area doesn't come at the cost of my success in another. Additionally, I need to take care of myself. Reducing sleep or skipping meals to study or do club activities is not sustainable. I need to find a sweet spot between exploration and focus. Here's what I've learned so far - hope it can help you.

It's important to experiment

I tried out a mix of activities, e.g., school newspaper editorial board, debate, HOSA, science club, chess club, soccer, badminton, etc.. even if I wasn’t sure all of these were “me.” The goal was to experiment enough to see what fits me. For example, while I enjoy playing sports, I don't see myself as an athlete. I tried out for our school soccer team anyways, just to make sure whether it's for me. Guess what? The tryout went well and I was invited to be a center midfielder because the coach likes my height, ability to pass and intercept, and my willingness to collaborate with others. He believes that with training, I'll make a strong link between defense and attack. This experience taught me an important life lesson: never weed myself out without even trying! I also learned in the process that as much as I like soccer, I don't feel the same level of excitement that I experience with chess. So, I turned down the soccer team offer, knowing that I was making an informed decision.

Curiosity is a strong indicator of true interest

I've noticed a pattern of what makes me curious. For example, while I've always found science fascinating, I'm much more interested in learning about how organisms work than how machines work. Not surprisingly, I enjoy the chemistry and biology components of my science class more than I do the physics modules. Realizing this, I signed up for HOSA without hesitation, predicting that I would enjoy this club with a health-sciences focus. I was right! Now I'm a HOSA member, happily learning about pathophysiology, medical research, and so much more. This discovery about my curiosity will also inform my grade 11-12 course selection later. Now I'm planning to take chemistry and biology.

Academic study and extracurricular activities complement each other

Balancing academic course load with extracurricular activities can be challenging. Oftentimes, we feel like being pulled in different directions at the same time. Do we always have to compromise one to do the other? Not necessarily. One way to ease this tension is to find extracurricular activities which help us build transferrable skills that will also improve our academic abilities, and vice versa. For example, debate sharpens my ability to research different topics, think critically, analyze problems, and communicate effectively. These skills are required to excel in English, science, and social sciences. Likewise, when I conduct literary analysis in my English class or test out a hypothesis for a science project, I'm strengthening my analytical skill, which is essential to becoming a better debater. So, finding intersections between academics and extracurriculars definitely helps!

Creating a focused path overtime is key

However efficient we are, to do well in any activity requires a serious long-term commitment. While it’s important to experiment at first, at some point, the exploration needs to become more focused. Dabbling around for too long is dangerous - too many scattered pursuits would stretch us thing, overwhelm us, and prevent us from developing deep knowledge in any area. Instead, focusing on two or three things would allow us to focus, grow, and also have time to rest.

To sum it up

High school has so many options that it’s easy to feel like you have to try everything - some of my school friends joined 10 clubs and then kept mixing days and activities up. lol Allow yourself to try things out, of course! But gradually narrowing down your direction can make a huge difference. Focusing on a few things that genuinely excite you will help you build skills and develop meaningful relationships with peers with common interests.