Extracurricular Activities Leads to Success
Allen Vy
California State University Los Angeles
Success in school comes from
experiences that help to build
by Universities and future employers.
June Kronholz, from the
confidence, and one of the key ways
article “Academics value of
to build self-confidence is by
non-academics” says that after
participating in extracurricular
school programs help students
activities. Activities which include:
pass their high school years.
sports, speech, service clubs and
Engaged students have a
student organizations. Many students
likelier change of going onto
who are involved in after school
college and becoming a
activities have a more positive
responsible citizen. According
outlook on life. They engage
to Kronholz, high school
themselves in a better balanced life
students have a 97% higher
style with social interaction, and are
chance of attending college
more likely to experience a boosted
with two years of
level of self-esteem and a greater
extracurricular activity
confidence in dealing with people.
experience, compared to those
Involvement in afterschool activities
who have none. If every
should start as early as middle and
student participates more in
high school because these activities
extracurricular programs, the
help to build better character and
statistics for graduation and
are highly looked upon
college enrollment would be
much higher (Kronholz 2012).
Joseph L. Mahoney from the
article “Promoting
Interpersonal Competence and
Educational Success
Vietnamese Student Association
ThroughExtracurricular Activity
Participation” states that
extracurricular activities”, Anthony
extracurricular activities allow
A. Peguero, explains the advantages
students to become more open
of extracurricular activities for
minded to other cultures and
immigrant youths. Minority groups
customs, and in turn help to
who are immigrants tend to have
reduce ignorance and social
disadvantages in school compared to
barriers among ethnic groups
those who are born in the United
(Mahoney 2012).
States. However, when involved in
Participating in clubs, sports
and various other activities in school
improves social skills and helps
students to be a part of the
community, one which can help them
to achieve their goals in college and
extracurricular activities, immigrant
studentshave the opportunity to
advance in various areas of their
educational level (Peguero 2011).
This article focused on two minority
groups, Asians and Latinos.
lead to many opportunities
thereafter. Networking is a key
factor in the job search today, and
by knowing and being engaged in the
community—the better off students
who are well versed in the areas of
social interaction will be. A famous
quote from a successful former
student stated, “It isn’t what you
know, it’s who you know”. This
shows that social skills play a vital
role in attainment of job
opportunities.
From the article “Immigrant
youth involvement in school-based
The differences between these two
are the activities they participate in,
Asians are known to be involved with
academic related activities, while
Latinos are more involved with
sports. Both types of activities have
proven to be very advantageous to
students: Academic related activities
yield better grades in school and
higher educational achievements while
sports related activities are shown to
coordination of a school wide
improve college retention rates, build
program,”Wendy L. Logan states
good relationships between the
that it’s important for students to
student and teachers, and a kind of
feel connected to their school
brother/sisterhood among its team
because it promotes academic success
members. Both are known to
(Logan 2008). Logan also stresses
improve student’s behavioral and
the importance for students to be
social skills, and most importantly an
involved in small groups that provide
overall positive attitude toward
mentorship and guidance. From the
education and school. Peguero also
article “The effects of school bonding
expresses a fundamental difference
on High School seniors academic
between Latino students and
achievement” the writers state that
Caucasian students. Caucasian
extracurricular activities promotes
students are more likely to join a
learning, relationship, team building,
wide variety of organizations,
and academic value (Bryan et al.
whereas Latinos tend to stick to one
2012).
type being sporting activities.
In conclusion, extracurricular
Peguero stresses the significance of
activities play a vital role in a
diversifying the types of
student’s life. It will help to develop
extracurricular activitiesthat students
self-responsibility, confidence, time
should participate in order to give a
management, social interaction with
well-rounded experience.
others, and communication skills—all
of which are essential fundamentals
to the achievement of success.
In the article “Connections
through clubs: collaboration and
Sources
Mahoney, Joseph L., Beverley D. Cairns, and Thomas
W. Farmer. "Promoting Interpersonal Competence
and Educational Success Through Extracurricular
Activity Participation."Journal of Educational
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PEGUERO, ANTHONY A. "A Profile of Latino School-
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PEGUERO, ANTHONY A. "Immigrant Youth
Involvement in School-Based Extracurricular
Activities." The Journal of Educational
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Logan, Wendy L., and Janna L. Scarborough.
"Connections through Clubs: Collaboration
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Gaenzle, Jungnam Kim, Chia-Huei Lin, and
Goeun Na. "The Effects of School Bonding
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