Sindu Aven talks about why it is important to maintain a healthy balance between academics and extracurriculars
Extra-curricular engagement is considered important, as it is believed to positively impact our future by fostering holistic development. Studies have shown that students who maintain a balance between curricular and extra-curricular activities are high academic scorers. Such students are also good at managing time and are capable of managing highly stressful situations.
Following are the aspects which talks about why it is crucial for us to maintain a healthy balance between curricular and extra-curricular activities —
Fostering creativity
Unlike popular belief, creativity and innovation can be developed, one just needs the right environment to foster their development. Creativity needs to be nurtured and extra-curricular activities help do just that. Arts, music, creative writing, are examples of creative pursuits that will open new doors and will encourage you to think out-of-the-box. Creativity has no boundaries and as a skill it will surely set you apart.
Indentifying One's Talent(s)
Search for your unique talent by exploring various curricular and extra-curricular activities that you would like to participate in. These opportunities will help you determine your interests, strengths and weaknesses that in turn will help you choose and prepare for a career in the future.
Foster friendship
One needs to interact with people to make new friends. Hence, sticking your head into books will only lead you to isolation. It’s important to maintain a balance between studying and interacting with friends, for its only when you step-out, will people get to know you and be interested in becoming your friends. Engaging in extra-curricular activities or being a part of a study group can be a great way to do that. It’ll give you an opportunity to make a new set of friends.
Building Self-esteem
Being good at many things will definitely give you a heads-up as compared to being exceptionally great at studies only. Staying actively involved in different activities will help you explore and understand your capabilities, strengths and weaknesses, better. This in turn will give you an opportunity to improve as well as acquire new skills that will foster holistic development of your personality. This experience will not only help you in becoming independent and more confident, but will also build your self-esteem.
Art of time management
Balancing curricular and extra-curricular activities will not only help you develop an interesting personality, but it will also benefit you by acquiring time management skills. It’ll help you get better at multi-tasking and prioritising. So, not only will you be great at handling multiple tasks but also acquire expertise in making the right decision within a given time frame.
Being Physically Fit
Today's lifestyle is such that it propagates laziness, and leads to fatigue, being a very common problem. Being physically active help boost metabolism, blood circulation, stamina as well as mental alertness. Engaging in extra-curricular activities will hence propagate the feeling of being active and energetic.
Practising Teamwork
In today's time where nuclear families are common, growing up in isolation leads to a lot of difficulties in one's ability to work efficiently as a part of a team. Simple qualities which one finds missing now-a-days are ability to settle conflicts cordially, persuade team members and compromise for the good of the team. Teamwork, thus, is a very important social skill that propagates the ability to be a participative.
Beating Stress
Exams, homework, revision tests, etc lead to a high level of stress. One can beat this stress by engaging in extra-curricular activities that will provide the much needed leisure and recreation.
Build an Impressive Resumé
Reputed universities seek a resumé which displays an intricate balance between curricular and extra-curriculars.
(Writer is academic head, Zee learn — Kidzee and Mount litera Zee School)