Design by Lauryn D (Year 12)

For way too long, I have heard countless people discuss high school co-curriculars in a negative light – deeming them unnecessary time consumers, criticising their purpose, and ultimately suggesting that they are not worth it.

I could not disagree more.

As I come to the end of my high school experience, I am reflecting on what ultimately made this journey what it was. Sure, I can certainly say I have made countless memories in classes, at carnivals, and during recesses and lunches, but the vast majority of what has made my high school experience so wonderful occurred in various co-curricular activities.

For example, I have been involved in almost every WCC theatre production for the past 5 years. I have also been a member of various musical ensembles, participated and coached debating, completed the Duke of Ed, and been a member of the We Are Editorial team. For some people, this might seem like quite a lot, but as I reflect on each of these experiences, I struggle to think of almost any negative aspects.

My first reason to get involved in co-curriculars is perhaps one of the most important – they help you to discover YOU. Through joining as many co-curricular activities as you can, you are able to very easily find out what you enjoy, and what you really don’t. High school is a significant time of growth and change, where your ultimate goal is to begin developing your life, a substantial portion of which is your own personality. Just like you will often take a wide variety of subjects at the beginning of high school, diving into as many activities outside of school as you can allows you to experience so many different potential interests and hobbies, which gives you a fantastically clear idea of your own interests and passions.

For example, in Year 8, I had tried a few co-curriculars and not quite found a particular passion, so I auditioned for the Lower Secondary Theatre Production at the time, landed a fantastic role, and had one of the most enjoyable experiences in all of my schooling. Now, I’m a Creative Arts Prefect and I am heavily involved in theatre and drama at William Clarke, all of which sprung from me trying a new co-curricular activity.

I completely understand that starting a brand new activity, with a brand new bunch of people, can be very daunting. I was certainly very scared to step outside my comfort zone and perform on a stage, which I had never done before, but I am so incredibly grateful that I did. Making this big step helped me to realise my great passion for the theatre, which has now become a massive aspect of my life!

The second reason why I believe co-curriculars are a crucial part of high school is the social aspect. Many people, myself included, start high school feeling a bit socially lost, and are searching for new friends and new people to be around. Sure, you can certainly meet many different people in your classes or in the playground, but a fantastic way to meet likeminded people, people who are also searching for companions, is co-curricular activities. Once you do meet these people, the friendship is super easy to cultivate, as you will have a shared commitment that you can always see each other at. The social aspect of co-curriculars is crucial in finding your community at high school – finding people that are similar to you, and helping you to feel even more a part of the school community. I have met some of my greatest friends through co-curriculars, and created friendships that have endured for a long time.

Another reason to participate in school co-curriculars is how helpful they are mentally. High school often involves a lot of stress, specifically with assessments and schoolwork overload, and having some contrast and leisure is super important. Co-curriculars provide avenues at school for you to switch your focus from schoolwork onto things you are more passionate about, allowing you to develop skills in areas of your own interests. Especially as you approach your senior years, it becomes very important to maintain these parts of your life, in order to stay healthy and not be overwhelmed.

Many people will tell you to give up co-curriculars as you progress in high school. These people often don’t understand their importance, and actually contradict themselves – they suggest that co-curriculars will distract you from your schoolwork, and take up your time, leading to an overall decreased productivity. However, you can’t be fully productive if you haven’t relaxed, your brain is overworked and deprived of rest and passion, and you are only working on things that don’t interest you. Therefore, co-curriculars actively do the opposite – they directly contribute to significantly more effective study and therefore better results and outcomes.

Do not let schoolwork, or anything else, get in the way of you pursuing what you want to pursue. High school, especially William Clarke, has so many opportunities for you, and provides you with chances to experience so many different things.

Do not waste this incredible chance; get involved, try new things – try a lot of things – and always say yes when the opportunity comes up. You will be amazed at how much you’ll like it.