University Life and Extra-curricular Activities

University Life and Extra-curricular Activities

        
We normally go to university to continue tertiary education. In my view, it is not worthwhile going to university with a mere purpose of getting a degree. We should go beyond the confines of the classroom to spread our wings. In other words, we should not be bookish at all times like we used to be in high school. Apart from pursuing academic qualifications (hard skills), we should partake in extra-curricular activities to equip ourselves with soft skills such as interpersonal skills, leadership skills, problem-solving skills, etc. that can hardly be acquired in the classroom.

       
During our salad days at university, we have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of extra-curricular activities – from sport, music and dancing to personal development and community service programs. We can choose the activity that suits our pastime. For example, if we are articulate and fond of engaging in debate, we can join a Debate Club. Through volunteering activities, we have a chance to meet new people of different personality traits and diverse backgrounds. So, we can build up friendships outside our usual circle, and expand our social network. We can also learn how to interact with others effectively, how to establish harmonious relationship with them,  and how to team up with them for the sake of common welfare. In other words, extra-curricular activities instil the spirit of cooperation in us, and cultivate the habit of building unity in diversity. Simultaneously, it helps us understand the saying “Many hands make light work”.

          
Furthermore, getting together with many people makes us feel a sense of belonging,  and boosts our confidence to assimilate into our community. It combats loneliness and depression as well as paranoia. It encourages us to be compassionate and considerate towards others, and respect different viewpoints of the others. In this way, we can improve our communication skills that are essential to live in concord with different types of people in our society. 

         
When we take part in extracurricular activities, we have to balance our time to study and to engage in activities on a regular basis. Thus, we can enhance our time management skills, and get to perceive the value of time. If we run a club as organizers, we have to tackle the challenges to promote reputations of the club, and to fulfill members’ expectations of the club. In this way, we can gain hands-on experience of leadership skills, problem-solving skills and negotiation skills. Moreover, occupying  such leadership positions reinforces a sense of responsibility in us, and enlightens us about the qualities of a good leader.

        
Nowadays, the job market is highly competitive. Thus, only academic achievement is not enough to project ourselves as ideal candidates among the sea of applicants. We need to showcase a range of best traits over and above our academic qualifications. Here, we can apply the aforementioned soft skills we have aquired and experiences we have gained through  extracurricular activities to create an impressive CV.

          
To sum up, in the springtime of life at university, we should get out of our comfort zone, and attempt to discover our potential by participating in extra-curricular activities rather than fiddling around and wasting our precious time. 

        
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Kyal Sin Phu
Sunday Special
The Global New Light of Myanmar
30 December 2018