<p>Hi everyone!
This question might get a little bit long and unorganized, so please bear with me!
It's my junior year and I'm in a bit of a bind in terms of extracurriculars. My freshman and sophomore year I wasn't involved in a lot of activities. A lot of my time was devoted to marching band, so I didn't consider reaching out beyond that. I auditioned and made several honor ensembles (county-wide bands, midstate bands and allstate bands). I decided not to continue with marching band this year, so I am scrambling to find activities to replace marching band. I'm in two honor societies, a club, a part-time job, and teach clarinet lessons to a middle schooler.
So I'm considering dropping the club and the lessons I teach. The mother of the girl I teach does not show a lot of interest in the lessons I provide and her daughter is very uncooperative and rude. (I hope I don't sound like a snob.) Communicating with the mom is so difficult and it's very hard to schedule these lessons. I have to go to her to set them up, instead of the other way around. I'm also considering dropping the club because we don't do anything in it.
I plan on training for a half marathon after the new year. It'll require a considerable amount of time to train for each week. (My parents both have run full marathons and participate in a training group that follows a strict schedule for the training required each week.) In addition to this, I want to start working more shifts at my job because I need to earn a lot more money for a summer program. Right now I only work 3 shifts over the weekend and I want to start working during the week days. My boss said he'll only allow me to work certain days during the school week, and they happen to conflict with the lessons I teach and the club.
So, basically I'm wondering if I should just scrap the club and lessons so I can train for this half marathon and work more. It's my junior year, so I haven't sent in college applications or anything, so I can choose not to list the club or lessons on applications. Would running a half marathon be something I could list on applications because of the training that goes with it? Should I quit the activities I've been doing so I could train and work more?
Thanks!</p>
<p>Bump</p>
<p>Personally, I feel like focusing on a half marathon shows a lot of dedication towards a goal but I’m not sure if that is what colleges are looking for. They want to see leadership and how you have helped out the community. Unless you want to run for college, I think you should continue your lessons but ask your music director if there are any other high schools students or contact elementary/middle schools to recruit more students. It shows that even though you quit marching band, you still stuck with music. That is what I would do, but you should do what you feel is best for your future.</p>
<p>Why would you choose not to list those activities you’ve done? Are you concerned that it will look bad that you quit them?
I’m not sure if you can put the marathon on your app. In an essay, yes, but probably not as an activity? I hope someone will correct me if I’m wrong.
As for your decision, I don’t think you should force yourself to keep doing something you don’t enjoy at all just for college apps. Go for the half marathon if it’s something you’re passionate about, then you can write a compelling essay on it if you wish.</p>
<p>Thank you all for responding.
@jamanda I’m feeling like dropping the lessons just to alleviate any extra stress/commitments so I could focus on training. I’m still in a youth orchestra outside of school and auditioned and made my states region and all state honor bands. So I’ll still be continuing with music even if I drop the lessons.
@mineO3O I am concerned about colleges seeing I quit them. If quit them and reported them on my app, they’ll see I only participated in them for a semester since I joined them this year. </p>
<p>And the training program is through a store called Fleet Feet. So it’s not like it’s just my individual plan, I have to participate in a group run every Saturday and run on my own during the week. I hope this information helps in defining whether this is an EC. </p>
<p>Sorry! Here’s one last bit of info. I have no interest in running competitively in high school or college. This is just my own individual goal. </p>
Bump