The world is changing rapidly in the 21st Century, and so are the requirements of the modern-day education system. The traditional education curriculum found its foundation in the early 20th Century and now requires reforms to adapt to new kinds of education and learning.
The main aim of education is to foster holistic development, and the role of co-curricular activities cannot be overlooked if this has to be achieved. It has become extremely important to maintain a high level of interest in academics as well as in co-curricular activities for the overall development of the students. Often students are made to focus solely on academics, this can make their minds overtaxed. Through extra-curricular activities, students can rejuvenate their minds and maximize their capacities to absorb knowledge. There exist a plethora of co-curricular activities to choose from which can help students develop important traits like critical thinking, creative outlook, leadership skills, recreational values, communication skills, and social skills, etc.
Although co-curricular activities help students recognize their interests and passions, they have to ensure that these activities don't interfere with academics. A student must strike a perfect balance between the two.
How to strike a balance?
Understand the importance of academics: Though co-curricular activities are important, they should not make your academic performance suffer. Remember, these activities are a crucial part of the curriculum, but they are not the entire curriculum.
Efficient management of time: Your academic success depends on how well you manage your time. The hectic student life demands a healthy balance between academics and co-curricular activities. Time management is extremely crucial for students to prioritize their tasks, carefully decide the amount of time needed to complete them, and strike a balance between learning and playing. Plan a schedule and follow it sincerely to see how everything falls into place swiftly.
Choose your co-curricular activities wisely: Quality matters over quantity, so you must keep your co-curricular activities limited only to a few. Do not join every club or activity that your college offers. Analyze your interests and know your passions before you sign up for anything. Also, apart from being involved in academics and co-curricular activities, your brain needs some time to relax, thus you must remain extremely selective in your choices so that you do not over-burden yourself.
Learn how to prioritize: Not all days are the same, there will be days when you will have to dedicate extra time to your studies and there will also be days when your extra-curricular activities will demand more of your time. It is extremely important to know when to prioritize what.
Following the above pointers, you can strike a balance between academics and co-curricular activities and make for a great college year.
