You just received your acceptance letter to a higher learning institution, ecstatic to study, but you undoubtedly know that studying is not for the faint-hearted. You are somewhat introverted, a semi-procrastinator and unsure of what it is you want to do after graduation. Your parents are counting on you and you have decided the most ideal plan of action would be to attend all your lectures and obtain distinctions… on second thought, it’s best to stick to the phrase, “satisfactory results”. There is that extra news team and community engagement programme that they offered you to join, but I mean, why would you want to spend extra hours on campus? What will your bed do without you?

Halt!

I think this is where most students make a mistake. Tertiary education does not have to end with theoretical study. I fact, it is encouraged by professionals and institutions that students engage in extra-curricular activities as this builds social skills, and encourages proactivity in the academic set-up. Adding extracurricular activities to your CV demonstrates your career interests, practical skills, as well as your ability to effectively manage your time. In addition, participating in extracurricular activities allows you to network, build your portfolio and share ideas.

Gaining skills by involving yourself in extra-curricular activities

Employers often stress the fact that graduates solely offer theoretical knowledge to the job. In addition, employers reiterate that often hiring an individual without proven practical experience can prove to be a short-term liability to a company. As validated by research, what better way to get hands-on experience than by aligning yourself to extra-curricular activities at school that may potentially teach you some for the practical skills required in your field of study.

In addition, engaging in extracurricular activities unlocks countless opportunities. When you expose yourself to academics alike and people with congruent visions as you, there is opportunity to heighten your knowledge and potential. You could also use it as a platform to market yourself. You may never know, you may just be talking to your next potential employer, collaborator, mentor, confidant, inspiration… the list goes on.

An extra-curricular activity changed my life

An early morning in the surrounds of stout blocks of buildings and acres of knowledge, I had been the first to arrive to my 8am journalism lecture. I lived so far from campus and had to take the earliest bus to school. As a result, I would usually be in the lecture room by 7am analysing the seat material patterns on the chairs in front of me. This morning was different, though. This morning my journalism lecturer inhaled the dry air that swirled across the room before me. I walked into a tall domineering figure, Mr Witz, who what somewhat intimidating. Mr Witz, with a distinctly different welcome smile approached me. He abruptly greeted me, to which I showed courtesy. He told me about a school-based film team he strongly recommended I join. I knew I spent many hours at school, mostly unoccupied, and that it would probably be a great way to eat away the time while I waited for the last bus to begin the tiresome journey back home. So, I joined.

At first, it was a drag! I mean, being new to any environment is a drag but soon afterwards, I learned the ins and outs of the world of film. In addition, I made great friends. A year passed, two years passed, three years passed and the bond between my friends became stronger. It was mutually agreed amongst the tea, and my good friends began a podcast. We all had something different to offer to the table. With sheer determination, within the first 6 months, the podcast gained traction we had never expected – half a million followers. We reached one milestone after the next, from touring cities, interviewing some of the most influential celebrities and getting a slot to air our show on television. It turned out working with the people I shared similar ideas with and with whom I had gained my utmost trust was the best investment of time that I had made in my entire tertiary career.

Little had I known that the day which Mr Witz approached me to join the film team was the beginning of everything.