Starting high school can be really intimidating. You may not go to the same high school as your friends from middle school, so it can feel like you’re doing it all alone and it can be . After a while, you may meet the people in your classes, but not all of them have similar interests as you do. This isn’t just something for freshmen; it affects everyone no matter what grade they’re in. That’s why joining extracurriculars that you’re interested in is important for high school students, since it can be beneficial for friendships in high school.

Since I was a freshman when the 8/9 existed, I only knew the people in my grade and maybe a few of the sophomores from the year prior. I had no idea what to do when I was going to go to the high school the next year. However, I decided to do marching band and I met a lot of people outside of my grade who had similar interests to me. I could get help in classes I needed help with from people who had already done them, and I made good friendships through it. The next year, I had people in the grades above me to help me around the school. I’m still friends with most of them, even though a lot have graduated, and I know they can help me with college things if I need it. 

I’ve also seen a lot of other people grow from extracurricular activities. I have a friend who is better at handling lots of things, such as being a leader and being more organized from being the president of Key Club. I have another friend who’s been more outgoing since she joined the art club. It’s small things like that that make extracurricular activities so useful for high school students. “While being the president can be hard with handling the people, I overall really enjoy key club.” Stated Denise Nguyen

Not only can they help you meet people and help you improve mentally, they can be helpful for college applications and provide new opportunities for students that they wouldn’t have originally. According to St Johnsbury Academy, “Extracurriculars help students work with their peers. Being in a leadership position helps them communicate with them and learn. It also looks great on college applications.” To me, that feels like it’s more likely to get accepted into colleges you want to be in, and maybe even get some scholarships from it.

While the hours linked to an extracurricular activity can seem daunting and scary, the overall effect of them can really help out high school students, mostly underclassmen, find a place they feel they belong. That sense of belonging is something everyone needs, especially in high school where so many things are changing around you. More people should consider doing them before deciding straight off that it’s not worth it. They can help you find a place to belong and help you build a passion for something.