There are many benefits to extracurricular activities, including exploration into areas of interest, spending time with friends, learning new things and basically expanding one's horizons. I know that being heavily involved in the schools I've attended was very rewarding because I felt like I was making a real impact in my academic career. It also doesn't hurt to have a number of areas you have been involved in to put on college or employment applications.
However, simply diving into areas just to be doing it is usually not a good idea. There is great deal of time management that needs to be done and if you aren't very good in this area, you can be setting yourself up for a heavy dose of frustration and exasperation. There were several times I felt worn out trying to balance everything on my plate even though I had everything planned out. There will always be situations that come up (i.e. special meetings that need to take place, athletic meets that last way over what they were scheduled, etc.) and students who can't handle these situations are the ones whose grades begin to suffer.
Therefore, a good place to start is asking yourself some simple questions about what direction you want to take this year. First, start with your general interests. Are you more athletically-inclined? Do you like the opportunity to help others and volunteer your skills? Do you like to be creative? According to the Nemours Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to children's health, students should not simply limit themselves to the familiar, but try something new. They suggest thinking about different roles within each activity or perhaps trying a new sport or activity you hadn't even thought of that seriously in this past. You'll find that most activities hold different responsibilities that can clue you in on what future career areas you'd like to pursue. Will you like structure and supervision or do you like working independently? Do you like to take direction or give it? Are you good at figures and budgets or are you more the idea person? Extracurricular activities, whether they be more academic or athletic in nature, can all lend themselves to the growth and expansion of the person you are now and the person you think you'd like to become.
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