By: Gavin Kinsella, Gateway Regional High School, Woodbury Heights
WOODBURY HEIGHTS, N.J. — As the school year winds down, it also brings college just a little bit closer for high school seniors.
A great way to grab attention of colleges is participation in extracurricular activities. The students of Gateway Regional High School understand the value these extracurriculars can offer them.
One of Gateway’s guidance counselors, Aimee Little, said that extracurriculars give colleges an understanding on who the student is.
“A college gets an idea on a student’s character, interests, leadership potential and dedication to their education,” Little said.
Extracurricular activities is one of the ways they evaluate if you’re a good fit for the campus, according to Little, to see if you’ll be just as invested on campus to make it better. They aren’t looking for you to be a part of everything you possibly can, just that you are involved as a student. Being in one creates an enjoyable experience for students to be a part of a community they helped build up.
Little believes that no activity is better than the other, since the activities depend on the person. So long as it aligns with the students personality and interests then it is a great fit. Finding something to join makes school more enjoyable to have somewhere to go with people who have similar interests. Even if it makes you a bit uncomfortable it’s good to branch out and develop more skills.
A senior from Gateway, Kalise Miller, thinks that participating in extracurricular activities shows you get involved and add more character to the school.
“They are able to understand that you will go out of your way to involve yourself in and out of the classroom and will add to the overall school environment.” Miller said.
Miller plans on going to Kean University for journalism to become a news reporter. By participating in extracurriculars related to journalism such as being the co-editor-in-chief for Gateway’s student run newspaper, The Chomp. She is the director and president of morning announcements. Along with producing, co-hosting, directing and more for Mr. Gateway, a comedy production done at Gateway.
She had gone on to say that participating in many activities requires time management, discipline, and knowing one’s limits. All important for scheduling yourself during college. Participation also allows you to interact with many different people when building your skills.
A fellow senior, Luis Morales-Rivera, wants to pursue a career as a Border Patrol Agent. He sees activities show you are effective with your time.
“Doing these activities shows to colleges you are a productive and active person,” he said.
Participating in activities such as soccer, track and field, and baseball has prepared Morales-Rivera for training you do at the academy. One activity was a 1.5 mile run in 13 minutes, which is something he had already done in soccer.
Junior, Devin Forman, thinks participating in extracurriculars is an overall boost as a student while allowing you to meet more people.
“It makes you more all around as a student and also you can meet new friends,” Forman said.
Forman’s current look is to Auburn and Alabama University for business. Currently he is taking a business course at Gateway, and next year he wants to get into the Gateway to Careers program.
Vivian Parker, a sophomore at Gateway is currently looking to pursue a career in surgical nursing. The activities she participates in are unrelated to nursing. Being team manager of the lacrosse team and dancing outside of school.
Even though they do not directly correlate, she finds that participating in extracurriculars has made her more outgoing.
“Extracurricular activities can potentially show that you are a leader, good at teamwork, go out of your comfort zone, looking for new opportunities, etc.” Parker said.
- What’s Good in South Jersey? Chris the Barber
- Stockton Hosts Annual Lines on the Pines Event
- Rowan University Virtua Health Opens Research Center
Follow South Jersey provides local journalism which highlights our diverse communities; fosters transparency through robust, localized, and vital reporting that holds leaders and institutions accountable; addresses critical information needs; supports people in navigating civic life; and equips people with the information necessary to partake in effective community engagement. If there is a story or event you think we should cover, please send your tips to news@followsouthjersey.com with “NEWS” in the subject line.
