The Importance of Getting Yourself Involved - Know What You Want.

    Before you start your search in surfing for new opportunities, you might want to ask yourself, "Why? Why do I want to do this? Why is it important to get myself involved?" If you haven't asked yourself this question, you might find yourself getting lost amid volunteering/working in a position - it has happened to me myself, so the first step to take is to know the purpose of getting yourself involved. This way, you are most likely to make the most of your extracurriculars in being proud of the commitment you have made!

A few perks with involving yourself in your community:

• Creates a balance between your academic lifestyle, and everything else - when you find a balance in your lifestyle, it helps to keep your mental health in shape, in which you are less stressed as you train to focus yourself on a variety of activities, which leads to a healthier lifestyle.
• Allows you to broaden your knowledge about yourself, which may be a focusing lens that helps you decide on the career path you want to design for yourself in the future.
• Gaining a new perspective through the new environments you expose yourself to
• Learning to develop your voice and communicate your opinions with different audiences - can be great practice for becoming familiar with expressing yourself more effectively to the public

Where to Start

It's a good idea to invest your time in activities that you think you'd enjoy best. But, it wouldn't hurt to try new things and attempt to step out of your comfort zone. In doing this, your capability to adapt to new environments will increase, and adaptability is a significant skill that will prove worthy in the work environment with a sufficient amount of cultivation. Try making a list of activities that you enjoy devoting yourself - think about your hobbies, your strengths, and even your weaknesses, as your weakness may allow you to gain purpose in strengthening skills you are not yet familiar with. If nothing seems to work like that, try starting to volunteer or work in a position related to your family's workplace. This can be a great starting point for you to figure out what you want in terms of commitment, in addition to personal interest and growth.

What to do with Your Involvement In Extracurriculars

   Don't forget to put your involvement in your community on your resume: the more you have to put on your resume, the more it shows of experience you have, which can be a persuading factor in qualifying for a job, college or university. Once you have involved yourself with extracurriculars for quite some time, try to reflect on your lifestyle a couple of times. Asking yourself questions is always a great place to start - but it only works if you're honest with yourself.

Some questions you can ask yourself include:

• Am I enjoying the extracurricular activities I am taking part in? Do I want to pursue a career related to the extracurriculars I'm involved in because I enjoy it/do not enjoy it so much?
• Does my involvement in these activities have a positive impact on maintaining a healthy balance between my work and academic life?
• Am I overstressing because of these extracurricular activities? If so, should I try to cut back on activities or look for new opportunities?
• How has my presence in these new environments impacted my perspective on my values and opinions? 

Where to...End?

Quick Tips and Resources

• Not sure where to start in searching for volunteer/job opportunities? Do you have a myBlueprint account? If you are familiar with this application, log yourself onto the website and click the "Work" and then "Job Search," located on the blue sidebar on the left-hand side of your screen. The Job Search may be of use to you, as these postings come from many different job search websites, such as Indeed and Monster.

• Another website that may be quite handy is YouthjobsCanada (https://youthjobscanada.ca/). This job search is mainly focused on jobs available for youth, ranging from volunteering to work opportunities situated across Canada!

• For more guidance on using your extracurricular activities in preparation for college institutions and universities, watch this short video right here! 

Well, I hope these tips helped! If you've got any questions, do not hesitate to comment! I wish you well with your extracurriculars!

Cheers,

Lumindri 

Works Cited

"Engaging in Extracurricular Activities (Video)." Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/college-careers-more/college-admissions/making-high-school-count/extracurricular-and-leadership/v/engaging-in-extracurricular-activities. Accessed 10 Jan. 2021.

TEDx Talks. "The Importance of Extra-Curricular Activities | Alexander Tham | TEDxBISB - YouTube." Www.Youtube.com, 2 July 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohbHezuf430. Accessed 10 Jan. 2021.

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