Artwork by Heejin Won
Ivy colleges, top-tier companies, and worldwide recognition are some of the goals that everyone nowadays looks up to. However, in order to reach these goals, not only do you need to have a wider perspective and knowledge, but you also need to have a lot of experience. And when I say a lot, I mean A LOT. You might be wondering… Where do we gain these experiences? Well, through extracurricular activities! When you are in high school or college, these activities are very essential to both your growth as a person and your resume, which can later determine your path into life. Of course, joining extracurricular activities is important, but joining the RIGHT ones is also a key thing every student stresses over.
You might be wondering... What are the RIGHT extracurricular activities to join? ‘Right’ can mean different things in different ways. However, the stereotypical thinking of the ‘right’ clubs to join are the honour clubs or the international organisation clubs (e.g., UNICEF). Let’s start with honour clubs. Usually, students would fight for their lives to join those clubs; through the process of applications, interviews, and tests, some may pass and some may not. Not only is the everlasting waiting for the results nerve-wracking, but the process of getting into these clubs is another component added to your stress box (on top of your grade worries). Everyone thinks that having that ‘HONOUR’ word in their extracurricular activities as part of their resume will shine their path and personality even more, making all the companies or colleges want you. Of course, this is true. But the real question is... Are you happy there? Are you able to create an impact within the club?
Having that title of being in an ‘honour’ club is not everything. What people really want to see is your impact and passion for that club! And in order to initiate that passion and impact, you must love and be happy in the club you are in. Just joining will not make a difference. When students join honour clubs, many feel distressed at the idea that they would either get ejected out or not be eligible to become a permanent member of the club. Of course, all these points are valid and important, but if you constantly feel unstable due to those thoughts, it is only crushing your mental health even more. How do I know this? Well… I, too, was in the same position. When I first joined the higher MUN team in my school, all my thoughts were: ‘I don’t get a lot of awards compared to the others... Will I ever be recognized as an executive or chair one day? Am I not good enough for MUN?’
However, there was a turning point in that thought. When I was selected to go to THIMUN as a representative of my school, I was half nervous and half pressured by the idea that I would be one of the people who weren’t heavily experienced. I was drained of those thoughts for days, on the plane, off the plane, and even in the hotel! When the day finally came, I noticed that MUN wasn’t only about being a great delegate or being the main submitter of a resolution. It’s the amount of international bonds you get with people. I found laughter, fun, and happiness when debating with my newly made friends, with some delegates even making jokes about Drake up on the podium. I believe that was the moment I realised my passion for MUN. Therefore, I would like to emphasise this: “What you do isn't as important as how you do it."
Lastly, when joining service clubs, don’t only join them because of their name. When students see the UNICEF sign, they would automatically run all the way to it, signing their names to join without even exploring all the other ones. Even though some service clubs or organisations might not be as well recognized compared to those international ones, they do serve the same purpose and motive: to help those in need. Ask yourself right now, ‘did I join these clubs for their name or did I join them because I really wanted to make a change?’ Therefore, I would like to emphasise that the name is not everything; finding clubs that match your interests and the field you wish to study in is more important.
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