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Starting higher education can be a new experience in comparison to primary school and college. For one, you tend to have a lot more freedom, and it’s more of an independent form of learning. You may also find that there are far more activities for you to participate in. Depending on your personality type, you may be inclined to jump in head first when it comes to extra-curricular activities. On the other hand, you may be the type whose only activity is immersing yourself in the library. Either way, you should know that there are many benefits of extra-curricular activities with one of the most significant being the competitive edge it gives you in the job market. On that note, here are three activities you should consider participating in during your time at university.
Volunteering
You may find that once you graduate from university and begin looking for your dream job that employers look for what you’ve been up to aside from your academics. This is where participating in extra-curricular activities such as volunteering comes into play. By dedicating some of your free time to a good cause, you can develop key skills such as time management, communication skills, teamwork and even management skills in some scenarios. You should, therefore, think carefully about where you want to volunteer and how it will enhance your CV. These points aside, volunteering can be an extremely rewarding way to spend your time and give back to society.
Sports Clubs
If you went to a pre-preparatory school such as Polam Private School, then it’s possible that you’ve already gotten a head start when it comes to sports, where extra-curricular activities are a great means of improving a kid’s social skills and sporting capabilities. Choosing to participate in one while in university can be an effective way to liven up your CV. There are a number of sports clubs and societies that you can choose from depending on which university that you attend. Joining some of these clubs will be free, while others may cost a fee. You should also note that there are some clubs that play sports for the purpose of fitness and it being a hobby, while others do so for the competitive aspect of it. Aside from it being a good addition to your CV, playing sports could also be a good way to stay fit and relieve some of the stress that accompanies meeting manic deadlines and trying to pass exams.
Social Club
Sports and volunteering may not appeal to you, and if they don’t, that’s okay. There are many other extra-curricular activities that you could consider doing which you will discover if you attend a freshers night. You should stumble across a social club that is interest-based and grabs your attention. This could be a cooking club if you enjoy whipping up dishes in the kitchen or an instrument club if you’re a fan of playing instruments. If it happens that you can’t find a club that interests you, consider starting your own. This shows good leadership and management skills as well as the use of initiative which should be very attractive to prospective employers.
Focusing on your education is a smart thing to do, however, a work-life balance is also important. By taking the time out to participate in extra-curricular activities, you exhibit your ability to balance multiple activities and show that you’re a person with interests and real-life skills. On that note, if you haven’t yet picked up something to do in your free time, now may be the time to start.
What extra-curricular activities did you take up at university?
*this is a guest post, but pictures are mine (taken at Hatch Homerton – my new favourite cafe/bar to work in!
