I’m currently a sophomore in high school, and trying to make my medical situation and extracurriculars work out.
Currently, I am involved in:
Younglife 1 hour/week, all year (bible study group)
Teacher Assistant 1 hour/week, half year (help teach 1st grade class)
Robotics 3-6 hours/week, only for 6 weeks (FRC robotics team)
YoungLife doesn’t offer opportunities for leadership. Robotics does, but I don’t know if I will be able to (see explanation below). And does being a teacher’s assistant count as leadership?
I have around 3-7 hours every week of mandatory doctor appointments/therapy. Due to this, I can’t be involved in much. I tried doing Science Olympiad, but since it is a team thing and I would have to miss a lot of meetings, I quit it. Then, I tried math club. However, they can’t provide accommodations on the AMC math test because they apparently don’t have to because it’s not something I need to take academically, it’s just an extracurricular. I also don’t know if I’ll be able to do a leadership position in robotics, because you have to be able to attend almost all of the meetings for that and that is a no-can do with my situation.
Help! I’m trying my hardest to get involved and it is just not working. I am very interested in STEM, so all of these let downs are making me pretty disappointed.
Do any of you have any ideas or experience with this?
I don’t have personal experience with this so sorry if I’m not much help, but I have some ideas. I think being a teacher’s assistant counts as leadership, because you’re being a role model. But if you want to add more leadership to that, how about plan some lessons / projects on an important TOK . For example, I volunteer as a teacher’s assistant at an art class for kids, and for leadership, I planned and led some art projects for about a month. And I wrote about this as my leadership even though I didn’t have to be committed for a long time.
About stem, maybe you could participate in a science fair? Does your school have a science club, that helps students figure out a project and compete in a science fair competition? Because that would be individual and probably more flexible.
One if my kids did some STEM related activities outside of school. We lived in a suburb that had a 4H group, and she did projects for entry into the county fair. Won some trips to exhibit at the state fair through that process.
You could take some MOOCs in technology areas.
Not sure if this is affordable for you, but she did a couple science related summer programs. Like Operation Catapult at Rose Hulman, which is an engineering camp.
You can ask your GC to mention your medical issues restricting your ECs when they write your college recommendation, too.
@1bostonterrier It’s ok, I know a lot of people don’t have much experience with this kind of thing. I actually was thinking about doing a science fair. I think that would be a great idea. It sounds pretty flexible for my schedule. Wouldn’t I be on crunch time though, because aren’t the regional science fairs around January/February?
Also, do camps in the summer count as extracurriculars? I was thinking of maybe doing some engineering camps (as long as I can get aid financially.)
@intparent Great idea, I was planning on telling my guidance counselor to include that, so it sounds like I really should then.
Yes, camps and summer activities definitely count as ECs. But they don’t often offer much aid. What about participating a local club outside of school? There might be an astronomy group, for example.
Maybe you could volunteer as a math tutor? You could tailor that to your schedule and it would show initiative.
I wouldn’t worry too much about “leadership.” Spend your free time doing activities that you enjoy and you will do fine.
@intparent Yeah, I noticed. Also, a lot of summer programs are very competitive, and have a rigerous selection process. Many I found were for “gifted” kids… I don’t know how I would line up against someone with talent like that.
Oh and I did find an astronomy club somewhat near me, but it’s only for adults. I could call and see if they would make an exception, but probably not (they are college lectures). I’m a huge astrophysics nerd, lol.
I’ve been looking around for a few months for summer programs or clubs I could do during the school year that aren’t afflicted with my school, but am not really coming up with anything that is affordable or that I meet the requirements for.
@mamaedefamilia I have thought about that, but I don’t think there are tutoring centers close to me. Transportation is a huge part of this, as I’m not sure if I’ll be able to drive.
Why not start a math tutoring group at your school, then?
@mamaedefamilia Most of my doctor appointments are right after school, and I would imagine that’s when most people would want the tutoring. That’s also one of the main reasons why I could not participate in Science Olympiad. Thankfully, two days of the week I can do after school stuff, but that is when I am doing assistant teaching at the elementary school.
My school already has an organized tutor system. Couldn’t do it this year (it’s during school time) because I didn’t have enough elective space.
Call the astronomy club and ask them.
That’s the plan! @intparent 