FIVE QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE EXTRA CURRICULAR PARTICIPATION

‘All work and no play make jack a dull boy’ goes a saying. I agree to this and that’s why I advocate for extracurricular participation. Participation in extracurricular activities on campus gives you the opportunity to associate with fellow students, learn how to interact and worked in a group. It could also be a platform for development of leadership skills. However, if you are not careful, participation in extracurricular activity can become your undoing. That’s why I want to guide you in deciding extracurricular participation you want to get involved in so as not to hamper your academic progress.

What’s In It For Me?

Get close to those who are involved in it and find out what they offer their members or those who participate in it. Check if it’s something you would want to get, then go for it. If not, keep away and continue searching. Also, be careful that they don’t deceive you with a bit while they are offering something else.

What Can I Give?

My idea of association is that I should be able to give something in any of my relationships. It doesn’t matter who the person in question is. It makes for mutual respect and sense of fulfilment. Closely observe the extracurricular participation you want to get in and see where you could help even it’s after you have been trained.

What Is Their Philosophy?

Organizations or groups are guided by a code of ideologies – philosophy. That shows what they are going for their members, how they intend getting it done and how they treat their members. As much as possible, try to figure out this before joining them. This saves you from hassles resulting from differences in ideologies. If you don’t, there is no point in joining. You will always find yourself disagreeing with the power that be among them which is not good.

Can I Cope?

I still insist that the primary purpose of going to school is to acquire knowledge that will help you become more useful to your society. Every other thing you do in the process is secondary.

So, before you join a group, having understood what they will give you and what you get. Ascertain the time, energy and money required for this exchange, be sure you will be able to balance it well with your academic pursuit. That way, extracurricular participation won’t be pains to you but gains.

Compare The Net Gains And Pains

Every of your extracurricular participation will have their gains and pains from your finding about the organization, determine whether the gain supersede the pains in the long run. If not, it’s safe not to join the group.

In determining this, don’t just look at the immediate gain and plan, consider their long term effect. As an example, if participation in an extracurricular activity will make me get 70 instead of 90 in my course, but equips me with what it will take to do exceptionally well in my career or marriage, I will forgo the 20 marks. At least, 70 is not a failure. Also, if it will give you pleasure now with long time painful consequences, don’t join!