I am currently a sophomore in high school and I am struggling with my ec’s. I swam for about 5 years and last year I was on the high school team. I haven’t swam since the season ended in February because I genuinely wasn’t interested in it anymore and wanted to try something else and weigh my options. Now it’s october and I still don’t know what to do. I know it is good to show dedication to something, and I am running out of time so I’m not sure if it is the best option. The high school team starts back up again in November and I can go back to the boys and girls club after that but I’m not sure if I should do it because I don’t really like it anymore. I recently was thinking about starting music or something but I feel like I’m way too late so maybe that’s just not realistic since most people at my school in the band and stuff have been doing it since elementary or middle school. I don’t know what to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Don’t continue with something you don’t like. Find things that really interest you and invest your time there. Just get involved.
I agree that you shouldn’t continue with something that you don’t enjoy. However, if you enjoy swimming but not being on the team, could you continue in other ways, like get a lifeguarding certificate and a job as a lifeguard or swim teacher? That shows dedication and progression of your skills, plus the responsibility inherent in having a job.
You’re late in the game for band or orchestra classes, but it is never too late to learn an instrument. This year our school started an after-school mariachi band, and some kids are starting from scratch on some of those instruments. Keep an eye out for those kinds of opportunities.
You could ask your guidance counselor to give you a career assessment. Then try something new based on those results (a test run of sorts). Or just have a chat to find out opportunities are available that you may not know about. You may end up starting your own club.
If you are still stuck, think of a favorite cause and do some related volunteer work in that arena. Two and a half more years of volunteering for a cause (even if not always at the same place) will look just as good as two and a half more years of swimming. Did you have a favorite club in junior high or grade school? Perhaps you can go back as a mentor.
Just throwing out ideas. It is important to stay involved somehow, and it’s okay to explore your options. Action is better than inaction in this case.
Thank you very much for all of the ideas. I am planning on going to my guidance counselor this week.
Keep us posted on what you end up doing. Good luck!!
Check out “How to be a High School Superstar” by Cal Newport. See if it is at your library.
“The basic message of the book is this: Don’t wear yourself out taking as many classes as you can and being involved in every club and sport. Instead, leave yourself enough free time to explore your interests. Cultivate one interest and make it into something special that will make you stand out among the other applicants and get you into the toughest schools, even if your grades and scores aren’t stellar. Newport calls this the “relaxed superstar approach,” and he shows you how to really do this, breaking the process down into three principles, explained and illustrated with real life examples of students who got into top schools: (1) underscheduling—making sure you have copious amounts of free time to pursue interesting things, (2) focusing on one or two pursuits instead of trying to be a “jack of all trades,” and (3) innovation—developing an interesting and important activity or project in your area of interest. This fruit yielded by this strategy, an interesting life and real, meaningful achievements, is sure to help not only with college admissions, but getting a job, starting a business, or whatever your goals.”
http://www.examiner.com/review/be-a-relaxed-high-school-superstar
I agree…can you build on swimming? Take a swim instructor/life guard course so you can teach swimming (also makes a good summer job).
I would not start in music just to have an EC.
What types of things do you like to do?
Do you belong to a house of worship? There are many volunteer opportunities there.
You can try clubs at school to get a feel for what you like.