Importance Of Extracurricular Activities Essay

Extracurricular Activities

“With so many different things to choose from, more kids than ever are taking part in activities outside of school. Nearly 6 in 10 kids aged 6 to 17 participate in at least one activity on a regular basis”(Lake). Many students participate in extracurricular activities on a regular basis and one reason is because of the fun that comes from them. But there are more benefits for students than just the fun. Extracurricular activities, such as sports or the arts programs, offer many benefits to a student’s life. Because of the positive effects they have, extracurricular activities should be required for middle school and high school students. First, extracurricular activities should be required because of the many social benefits they offer for students. Many students have low self esteem and studies have shown that extracurricular activities are effective in building self esteem. Having positive self esteem also helps students have improved test scores. According to research, “Participation in an after school program that is designed to build self esteem, had positive effects on standards test scores in math and reading” (Massoni). After school activities boost students’ self esteem and that makes them feel good about themselves and also persuades them to want to be successful in school. Also, students with great self esteem find it easier to make friends and be social. Students that participate in extracurriculars feel included and involved in