Get With the Program
Using afterschool
activities to develop skills and talents.
by Kristen Sagliani
Afterschool programs have positively
affected kids for centuries. Enhancing children’s
self-esteem and forging friendships, afterschool
programs also spur kids to find their niche
in life. Although some rewards such as developing
discipline, teamwork, and cognitive and physical
skills are not always immediately evident
in kids involved in organized activities,
many extracurricular activities and local
programs encourage adolescents to explore
career paths during middle and high school,
as they learn more about themselves.
As a competitive gymnast for 15 years, a member
of almost every travel team sport you could
possibly play in a season, a violinist in
the school orchestra and a participant in
numerous afterschool clubs, I was able to
maintain high honor status throughout elementary
school to college. Now, I think what an active
child I was. But, back then I didn’t
realize how all the activities I participated
in helped to shape my personality, interests
and the person I am today.
Afterschool activities played a colossal role
in my life, as they do for billions of kids
around the world. As a member of organized
sports teams like the gymnastics squad and
soccer and field hockey teams, I united with
complete strangers who shared a common interest.
We formed unbreakable bonds, even while losing
the big game or placing as a runner-up in
a competition.
On teams, you learn to take constructive criticism
from coaches and your peers. This helps students
to handle and use criticism, like when they
are in school collaborating on group activities.
Later, field and classroom adjustments concerning
your personality can be adapted to the job
market, allowing you to flourish on the board
of a small company to a large corporation.
Being a member of an organized program, especially
a team, also teaches you how to walk away
from messy conflicts— from getting bullied
for acing a high school exam to being pressured
to pledge a certain sorority in college.
As a team member, you learn to make routine
and practice a habit. If you’re routinely
on time for practice and you routinely try
your best, with a positive attitude to match,
then those praiseworthy habits will likely
stick with you, as they did for me.
Overall, organized programs teach kids how
to maintain a positive attitude. This is important
from start to finish, every day of your life,
no matter what task you face. If you are shooting
the ball to make that winning basket, but
you miss, it’s crucial to hold your
head high and keep your attitude kind. Then,
when the next practice rolls around, your
teammates will remain on your side. And when
the next game is played, you have a fresh
start to contribute to victory and keep the
team morale in check.
Likewise, if you are in a gymnastics competition
and fall off the balance beam at the end of
an almost-perfect-routine, you have to get
back up, ignore it and finish the rest of
your events. Winners do not dwell on their
mistakes. They rise above and learn from them.
Though classroom lessons stimulate your mental
growth, organized afterschool programs and
sports continue the learning after 3pm and
put your mental, cognitive, social and physical
skills into practice— especially come
competition time.
And it’s not all about winning. Losing
a game or not making varsity tennis during
your freshman year of high school prepares
you for the real world. Getting rejected from
colleges, turned down from employers and losing
friends are all part of growing up. And it’s
not all bad. Losses build character and psych
you up when you do land your dream job or
make a new fabulous friend. Just be sure to
remember the constructive criticism you received
in afterschool programs, and be set to make
strides in each new opportunity you embrace.
I definitely gained my competitive edge thanks
to afterschool programs. Of course you can,
too! When the school bell rang each day, my
parents shuffled my sister, brother and me
to three diverse places. My sister went to
the ballet studio, where she danced center
stage as if she were the next big star to
grace New York’s Broadway theaters.
My brother went to the soccer and lacrosse
fields, where he practiced for local and international
games. I, on the other hand, went to the gym—
my second home—where I spent most of
my time practicing for upcoming competitions.
Although we all went to different afterschool
activities, we shared the same positive mentality
and passion. No matter what your favorite
afterschool activity is, when you’re
playing in competition, even sitting on the
bench or competing in an academic-style game
show, use constructive criticism to remain
aware, competent and competitive. Competitive
behavior teaches a sense of politics, another
window into the real world. Most importantly,
at structured and well-run afterschool programs,
you stay competitive in a winning sense. You
discover the benefit to always trying your
best to win. However, it’s not the end
of the world when the scoreboard reveals a
“loss.”
Want to be more well-rounded? Sign up for
an array of afterschool programs. Assess your
classroom load and family responsibilities
with your parents during each school semester
to determine whether cello lessons and gymnastics
fit into your weekly calendar. Also consider
whether the proposed activity may help make
you more wise, fulfilled and/or confident.
Or, perhaps you have the time and hankering
to try out fencing or martial arts—
activities that may make you more disciplined,
focused and athletic. In addition, your friends
might have suggestions about what afterschool
programs do wonders for them. You may not
become the next great Olympian by signing
up for another sport. But, with effort, practice
and a positive attitude, even in light of
constructive criticism, you’ll gain
unbeatable life skills and likely insight
about your future career path. Along the way,
you’ll probably make lifelong friends.
Kristen Sagliani, age 20, is a junior
at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte,
double majoring in biochemistry and mathematics-statistics.
Sagliani enjoys writing for relaxation, and
hopes to continue her education to pursue
a career in medical research.
