Beyond College Apps: Why Are You Really Here?

In an ideal world, joining extracurricular activities and clubs is all about pursuing one’s passion and personal growth. Students sign up to explore interests, develop new skills, and build connections with others who share the same enthusiasm.

However, somewhere along the way, that idea became skewed and lost its meaning. Instead of pursuing genuine interests, we’re looking at extracurricular activities as merely a means to an end, something that would add variety to our resume to make us look good on paper. And as we get closer to the college application process, the initial excitement of participating in something we’re passionate about has been overshadowed by the desire to build the perfect college résumé, starting the endless pursuit of activities, achievements, and academic validation.

So, let me ask you the same question I asked myself repeatedly as I wrote this article—why are you really signing up for all these extracurriculars?

The mindset shift where students join extracurricular activities for ‘display’ purposes rather than passion leads to superficial involvement. This could include reaching only the bare minimum attendance or complying with tasks or competitions without being fully engaged. Moreover, at MGCNLCA, some extracurricular activities and varsities even provide incentive grades to members for merely joining competitions they are expected to participate in from the start. This, in turn, can lead to one not putting in their full effort and creating low-quality outputs, to name a few. Through this system, joining organizations and varsities reduces them to checkboxes rather than opportunities for growth and learning.

However, I believe it’s still worth acknowledging the potential benefits this system could bring. When students join and eventually get accepted into these organizations, they are forced to challenge and place themselves in unfamiliar situations. In many ways, this aligns with the idea that “effort beats talent”—that hard work and dedication can bridge the gaps between ability, aspirations, and achievement. At the same time, though, the counterargument “if you enjoy something, you are most likely to improve at it,” as proven by Chapman & Phillips (2012), tells us that enjoyment and successful performance have a direct relationship. Passion fuels effort, and when students are pushed to join for the sake of credentials, more often than not, they get burned out easily. 

The pressure to conform to social expectations adds another layer of depth to the issue. We’re used to defining the ideal “well-rounded” student as someone who joins organizations and participates in school varsity teams while excelling academically. This concept then compels students to juggle multiple activities, often at the cost of personal enjoyment, physical health, or mental health. The relentless pursuit of ‘getting by’ for extracurricular activities will sooner or later lead to burnout (from personal experience).

Dear reader, I invite you to look at the list of extracurricular activities listed below your name on your résumé or application. How many clubs were you able to juggle? How many certifications can you add to your résumé? The truth is, when extracurriculars lose their intended purpose and become a means of validation, they start to drain more than they give. 

So, what’s the solution? Revisit why we’re doing this in the first place and reflect on whether we’re truly pursuing activities that align with our interests and goals. We only go through this high school experience once. Choose activities that genuinely ignite your interests, challenge your skills, and give you purpose. We must recognize that passion (and, therefore, hard work), not just talent, drives growth and fulfillment. If we focus on genuine interest and commitment, the effort we place in our extracurricular activities will show and lead to a more rewarding experience, far beyond merely ticking boxes in a college application. Forget the résumé for a moment—what are you here for?