Speaker 1: These things, the time you put in, it's all going to be worth it in the end because it's gonna take you through so much and it can do so much for you. Like even if you don't continue doing whatever you're doing right now and you do something else in the future, this experience right now can help you so much with something else.

Speaker 2: Hey, this is Scott Todman and you're listening to the Life is the Future podcast, a podcast for health education, middle school, and life in general. It's episode 10 of season 5 of our podcast. Here's this week's hosts, Ava and Dinora.

Speaker 3: Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the Life is the Future podcast. We're your hosts, Ava and Dinora. And today we have three guests. Hi, I'm Caitlin. Hi, I'm Kayla. Hi, I'm Benny. And today we're going to be talking about participation in extracurricular activities. Do you participate in any extracurricular activities? If so, what do you do?

Speaker 4: I do track and then I do guitar and drums outside of school.

Speaker 3: Nice. I do dance. I do dance and volleyball. How do you think participating in extracurricular activities helps with like your mental health? How do you think it can help?

Speaker 1: For me, like when I go to these extracurricular activities, it like helps with my stress a lot because like I forget all my problems almost. And like when I do it, like I feel like really free and like all my things go like I'm just focused on what I'm doing and it's like really nice. Yeah. I feel happy.

Speaker 3: I relate to that because I'll be like really stressed before I go to practice. But then like once I'm like, like doing my sport and actually like participating in it, I think about nothing else than what I'm doing. And it kind of just lets me escape for like two hours on practice.

Speaker 5: Yeah, same. I think it just gets like my stress away and I always focus on that. I'm like not worried about schoolwork or anything else. I'm just focusing on like what I'm doing and like making it like fun and not like worrying about my stress outside of like my sport.

Speaker 4: I don't really think there's much to add from what you've already said. But like, oh yeah, because I do track so it's like I run all my problems away. Yeah. I throw things, so. How do you guys juggle with your schoolwork and your extracurriculars?

Speaker 1: Okay, so I, like I try to get my work, all my work done before. So like I don't have to worry about it afterwards because like I'm obviously going to be like tired and just want to like shower and get in bed. So like right after school, I try to get it done and then like try to get all my studying done and then I go. And then, yeah, so I don't have to be worrying about it while I'm there.

Speaker 3: That's exactly what I do. And I feel like if I don't get it done before, then I get stressed about it. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 4: See, I do all my work either during class or achieve. Yeah. I have like no homework because my teachers don't assign anything. Yeah.

Speaker 5: I try to like do my homework after I get home or like during achieves. Then when I get home, I can like get ready for my sport, like take time and like just hang out with my friends. Then go to my sport. If I do have homework, I try to do before so then I'm not like stressed about it. Like at the time, I'm like trying to have fun. Yeah.

Speaker 3: Yeah. Do you think it's better to participate in like sports and clubs and stuff than do like nothing?

Speaker 4: I find it so much more fun. Yeah. Because I do track for school and so I have, I get to talk with all my friends after school too. Yeah. It also helps to kind of like socially expand yourself because you're, if you start a new sport or like a new club or whatever, you are around all these new people and you're forced to like to interact with them because you're going to be with them for a while.

Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah. I feel like it just, like it can make you have fun and not focus on other things that may be like bad in your life. It's kind of like an escape in some way. Yeah.

Speaker 5: Because if there's like drama at school, then you always have those friends to talk to or like. Yeah. You always have like another like friend group or something that you could talk to when you have sports and like that you have like someone else to talk to and like enjoy being around.

Speaker 1: I feel like like not only it's like fun, but it's like it teaches you a lot of things and gives you like a new experience. And like it gives you a new perspective and like teaches you a lot of like leadership and like teamwork and. Yeah. Just like, like I feel like it like makes you grow as a person. Yeah.

Speaker 3: And I feel like doing nothing can kind of get repetitive over like a certain amount of days. Yeah. It's like you're doing the same thing. But like if you're in extracurriculars, you do it some days and then you get some days off. And like each practice is like different, focusing on what you do. And yeah.

Speaker 4: Why is it important to partake in an activity you enjoy? I find it like a lot more fun because when you enjoy it, it's like it's not as bad as forcing yourself to do something, especially when you're at school for like so and so hours.

Speaker 3: I feel like if you don't like an activity that you're doing, you kind of just dwell on the fact that you hate it and you don't want to be there and stuff. So it kind of makes it that much more worse. And it feels like the time, it feels like minutes feel like hours and it's just like so slow and it drags on. Yeah.

Speaker 1: Yeah. And like you waste a lot of, you're wasting your time if you're like. And money too. Yeah. And money too if you're like doing something you don't like. And I feel like when you like the sport, like you can like let your creativity out and you work harder because you know that you want this. So then it like pushes you to do better and be better. And like you actually have an interest in it. So like you try to actually learn about your sport and like do your best, you know?

Speaker 5: Yeah. And if you, I feel like if you like it more, you're like take more time into it or like you're enjoying more and you won't be like miserable. Or you'll be like, I just want to leave. Like you actually want to have fun and like enjoy like what you're spending your money on and what you're doing with like your friends or like what you're doing. Yeah. It's like really good for your mindset.

Speaker 1: It's like you're not like, oh, I want to leave. But instead you're like, oh, I don't want like. You don't want to leave. You don't want to leave. But if you don't like it, then you want to leave. So it's like obviously you would want to stay there and not be like counting the minutes.

Speaker 3: Sometimes like your friends at school, like you kind of sometimes you may get annoyed with them or be like, I just like need a break from them for like a few hours. And I feel like if you do a sport, that's like not necessarily at school, but somewhere else, it allows you to get more like, like meet new people like that may be older or younger than you. It doesn't matter because you're just making new friends and socially you're getting out there, which is always a good thing.

Speaker 4: Yeah, when I did gymnastics, I had like nine people on my team and like it was like fun because we all would like talk to each other about the things that were going on in our schools and stuff. And like it's like a break from like your regular friends.

Speaker 3: And extracurriculars like I I don't think it matters like if you're in a sport, like how old your teammates are, because like personally, like the people on my team, it's not by age. So like any age from like 13 to 18 can get placed on our team. And I actually like like it more because it allows you to like learn new things about like and they can help you to for like future school life and stuff like that and what to do and what not to do.

Speaker 5: And they can help you like in what you're doing. Like if you're playing an instrument, like you can get better like a sport, you can teach you how to like play better. Yeah, and then you'll grow too. And you can help the other people when they join when they're younger.

Speaker 1: It helps you in the communication because like if you don't know how to talk to different age groups, like for example, when you're older, like if you're a teacher, how are you supposed to like be able to like talk to younger people? Yeah, like, um, I like job interviews. Like if you get nervous to talk to someone older, it's like, you know, so it's like good to be able to talk.

Speaker 3: Yeah, or if you're scared to talk to people in general. Yeah, like, I feel like it's a great way to get out there. Definitely.

Speaker 4: Um, along with like mental health, it also helps to do it helps with your physical health to do extracurriculars. Because, um, well, mostly people do like, like sports, mostly sports, but it just your physical health.

Speaker 3: Yeah, it helps out with that and stuff. Have you ever done an extracurricular that you hated? Yes, definitely. What was it?

Speaker 4: I did hip hop dance with this group of people last year. And it was like, so bad because everyone knew each other since they were like six. Oh, yeah, that happened to me.

Speaker 5: Like I joined a sport late because I didn't do it when I was younger. And like, everybody knows people and you're just new and like you don't have much experience. I also do gymnastics, but like, I'm so tall. So like, I can't like do as much as other people. So it's kind of hard because then I kind of don't enjoy it because I can't do many of the things.

Speaker 1: I agree with Kayla because like, it really takes a mental toll on you. I thought this is a kind of topic, but like it really takes a mental toll on you. Knowing that other people are better than you or more experienced than you. Especially if you go into a sport when you're like older and you don't have as much experience. And like you don't know everybody there. But you see the people, like what they have. You see that they have a family with the people there because they've been there for so long. And they've built relationships. They got really good at their sport. They're like mastering everything they're doing. And then you're just over here like three steps behind them trying to catch up to them. And like, especially if you don't know anybody, there's nobody that can help you. So you have to learn on your own. Like for me, for my sport, like nobody ever taught me how to do anything. I just had to walk in there and I had to like teach myself. And like I didn't know anybody out there, so I would just like stand there and just like do it. And like yeah, I know you're going there. Oh, you're doing it for your sport. Like it doesn't matter if you don't make friends. You're not there to make friends. But it's like nice to make friends. Like you know that there's like people to lean on. And like you feel more comfortable. And it's like, I don't know. So it can be really hard when you join late and like you don't have as much like experience and time there. Because like it just like makes you feel bad about yourself.

Speaker 3: Because like especially if you're the type of person that always wants to do good and be like the best at what you do, it's especially hard seeing people like, wow, like they're so much better than me. I wish I could do that. Because I see that all the time in like the higher teams above me. Like I feel like that. But like I just try to tell myself that one day I will get there. And like eventually I will be that person. And then there'll be another like person in the same exact spot. And I can help them if they like feel like it's taking a mental toll on them.

Speaker 1: I feel like it just like really makes you underestimate your worth sometimes. That's like really hard to like get. It's like a vicious cycle where you just keep like telling yourself, oh, you're not good enough. You're not good enough. You can't do this. You can't do that. You're not going to get anywhere in the future if you can't do this. If you can't do this like somebody else. But like so it's like hard to like try to get yourself out of that. But I feel like, I don't know. Yeah.

Speaker 4: Yeah, so it's kind of like undermining your own health.

Speaker 1: Yeah.

Speaker 4: So like what about your coaches? Like how do they impact your mental health? I think it depends on like what type of coach you have. Because like I have multiple coaches for different things. Yeah. Like when I was in dance I had like three coaches. And then for track I have like four. And so it's like it depends on like how they teach their own stuff. Because I know I had some really good coaches. But I had some that were like they just tell you what to do and they wouldn't really like coach.

Speaker 3: Yeah. I get what you're saying. I have two coaches this year. And like I feel like they have a good balance between when they need to be tough on you. Like tough love. And also when they feel like they need to help you and fix things. So I actually really like my coaches this year. And they also want to get to know you too as an athlete. So I feel like that's what kind of makes a good coach. Finding that good balance between all of them. And those are what my coaches are like this year. So I'm really like happy that they are.

Speaker 5: Yeah. Also if you feel like if you have more coaches you have more like options or like opinions. Yeah. Because like if you're stuck in one class but you don't feel comfortable with another teacher. There's always like another teacher like behind your back. And like they can help you with the things. Like you can be more comfortable. And like you have more like opinions and like more people to help you. So you can learn different things. Yeah.

Speaker 3: So like how many hours do you guys spend like on extracurriculars? And how much spare time do you have?

Speaker 4: Well now because I just have my three extracurriculars. I think I spend like maybe seven hours a week. A week. Yeah. Because it's not that bad. Yeah. Well probably a little more because it's after school. Yeah. For like an hour and a half. It doesn't really feel like there's much of an addition. Yeah. And because other than like track meets which usually go on for much longer. Yeah. I have a lot of free time. Yeah. Because it's just the three things that I do. Yeah. And the other two don't take very long.

Speaker 3: Like each day I have like probably two hours on my sport. I do competitive cheerleading. But it's like every day. Like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. And sometimes I have extra practices that they add on. So it's like a lot. But like if it's something that I enjoy I feel like it's all going to be worth it. Because in the end I get to go to Florida and compete. Which is like for like a national champion and stuff like that. Yeah. So I feel like it would all. I just keep telling myself it was all worth it. And I actually enjoy it which makes it that much better.

Speaker 4: I feel like with the extracurriculars when you actually like it. It's like it becomes part of your free time. Like in track I have this one event that I like really, really enjoy. And so it's like it doesn't bother me as much because I know I can actually do it. And it's a lot more.

Speaker 5: Yeah, I've danced like three hours a week. But then sometimes they add on like extra days before like competitions. But I like want to know that I can keep going in it. So then like in high school or like when I like grow up. And like then I can maybe like learn better in it. And then I can maybe like make a team there or something. Because I feel like if you like do it like more. Like you know like you can do better. Like even if you have like one day. Like you could still get better and like make a team one day. Like in college or high school or like farther in your life.

Speaker 1: I do like maybe like four hours a week. And I feel like it's like these things. The time you put in it's all going to be worth it in the end. Because it's going to take you so like it's going to take you through so much. And it can do so much for you. Like even if you don't continue doing whatever you're doing right now. And you do something else in the future. This experience right now can help you so much with something else. Like this is like one step to a bigger thing. And so I just like keep thinking about that. Like this could be good for my future. This can lead me to bigger and better things. And like can make me a better person. A better athlete. Or like whatever I want to do in the future. Or like do with my life. Like it could be a big thing. Like even if it's not like a physical thing that it does for me. It can be like a mental thing. Like it can teach me a lot of mental like experiences. And like teach me a new life. Like take me through like life curves. And like help me with my social life and mental health. And like everything like that.

Speaker 4: Yeah. And like putting weeks of effort into your sport. And then finally being able to go to like the Nationals. Or like the main competition or whatever. And then it's like a really big accomplishment. That you were able to get there. And like, yeah.

Speaker 1: And like especially winning after all that. Like it makes it that much better. Yeah. And I feel like it's just so nice to.

Speaker 3: I forgot what I was going to say. I feel like if you don't do well. Like if you don't do good at a competition. Like if you know that your whole team tried their best. And you did everything that you possibly could be. Like could do. I feel like it kind of is still disappointing. But it's like I did everything I could. But I'm just going to try again next year. Because like just do it until you win. That's something I wouldn't. Like I would do it until I win. Like at least once. It pushes you to do better.

Speaker 1: It pushes you to like keep trying. And makes you work even harder. And like you practice more. Because you're like oh I didn't win this time. I'm going to win the next. Yeah.

Speaker 3: Failure is like a part of success. It definitely motivates you.

Speaker 1: It definitely motivates you.

Speaker 4: Yeah. Losing it just puts you in that mindset. That's like okay I have to do better next time. And I have to like prove to myself that I can win. And I can do well.

Speaker 1: Yeah. Like failure is a win too in itself. It teaches you so much.

Speaker 4: Especially because the competition within the sport is also like. It motivates you to go like do a lot more. Because I don't want. When I'm racing against other people. It's not. It's like I'm not pushing myself. But when I know I'm racing against one of my own teammates. I go a lot faster. Yeah. Yeah. It's just. It's just as much. It's a lot more motivation. Not just to beat them. But like to actually try harder. Yeah.

Speaker 3: Yeah. So do you guys. Have you guys done any like volunteer extracurriculars? Like maybe Feed My Starving Children. Or just like volunteering somewhere. Yeah.

Speaker 5: I did like Feed My Starving Children. I used to be like on a Girl Scouts team. And we would go there. Or like we would go to like campsites. Or like help clean up. Or we would go to like other schools. And like just like clean up. And then we would get badges for like helping the world. Like and cleaning up trash. Because we would want to like make our team like help the world. And like at least like help children. Like.

Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah. Do you think it is important to partake in like just volunteering?

Speaker 4: Yeah. I find it a lot of fun to volunteer. Yeah. Yeah. Because it. You see all these people in need. And you're just like. Wow. Like I should be more grateful for what I have.

Speaker 1: It like really makes you open minded. It's like you see what you have. And then what they have. And like you see the world. Like it really opens your eyes to like a new perspective in things. It's like one day you might be like. Oh this world like. You might be like throwing plastic everywhere. And not caring. But then you actually look around. You'll see that like. There's like trash everywhere. Like we're like killing our world. Yeah. And like. I'm not. I'm not gonna. I shouldn't quote it. And like things like that. You know. And like people like. You learn. I don't know. I feel like you just learn that like. You don't appreciate what you have. Until you see what others have. And like. Yeah. Yeah. And like. That's so true. Yeah. And when you do like volunteering and things. I feel like it makes you feel better about yourself. It makes you like a better person. Yeah. Because like. Now you did something to help the world. Because. Like. People have done so much. Like helped you so much. And now you're doing a favor. And even like. This can like impact someone's life so much. Yeah. Like helping somebody out. Like someone who's homeless or something. Doing one little thing. Like giving them like a dollar or something. That could go a long way. Yeah. And I'm like. I'm like a strong believer. That like. What you give will always come back to you. Yeah. So like. When you do something good. I feel like something good will always happen to you. And like. It's a golden rule. And like. Yeah. Just doing something for somebody else. That shouldn't be an over. Yeah. Yeah. Like. It also like.

Speaker 3: Volunteering and things. Like can go on your resume. As well as sports. Like. Anything can help. You get into college. Or get a job. Like. Yeah. Just. If you show them that you're. Like a good human being. And just want to do the best. For like something. It just shows a lot. I volunteer during school hours too.

Speaker 4: So like. I. When. I skip my cheese. And some. Most times my lunches too. And I go to peer buddy classes. And I help them too. Yeah. Same.

Speaker 3: I go to peer buddies too. And it's a lot of fun.

Speaker 4: Cause. Like. You get to help them. But you. Like. Learn the way. That they're learning too. Yeah. It's like. How you can empathize. Yeah.

Speaker 1: Yeah. Volunteering I feel like. Builds your character. Yeah. Because. It just. Like makes you. Want to do better.

Speaker 3: And be better. Okay. And I think that's where. We're going to wrap it up for today.

Speaker 4: Mm-hmm.

Speaker 3: Thank you so much for listening.

Speaker 4: To. Season 5. Episode 10. Of Life is a Feature Podcast. I'm Dinora. I'm Ava. I'm Venny. I'm Kayla. I'm Kaitlyn. And thank you for listening. Bye. Bye.

Speaker 5: All right.

Speaker 2: Thanks to Kaitlyn, Kayla, and Venny for joining Ava and Dinora this week to talk all things extracurricular. Another great episode as season 5 is rolling towards the finish here. I'm really glad the 8th graders brought up all things extracurricular. Not just with sports or music, they even brought up volunteer work at the very end. You just heard the girls talk about reasons to participate and the effects on social and mental health, the competitive nature of things that sometimes occurs, and then just the experience overall. They talked about what can be learned from coaches as well as teammates. I'm glad that they brought up a topic like self-worth in regards to extracurriculars. The students even talked a little about being involved in some extracurriculars that they didn't necessarily enjoy. You know, what can be learned from failure or just flat out not enjoying an activity. Particularly awesome was towards the end of the episode as they started talking about the future, what life skills can be transferred into all other endeavors. And finally, how about altruism, being involved in volunteer work, whether it's connected with the school or if it's just an outside activity in the community. All in all, and I hope you'll agree, I'm thankful for the insight into teenage life. You know, do extracurriculars have a place in growing up and in school years? It's not just all about academics, and I think this episode proved that. As usual, what I'll make sure I do is provide a resource or two on this very topic that I'll put in the show notes that you can check out right after watching or listening. We appreciate you following along in our creative journey. As we head into this final month of the school year, we've got some cool things planned. So make sure you've subscribed and you stay up to date as we wrap up the 2022-2023 school year and season five of the Life is the Future podcast. As always, thanks for tuning in. See you next time. Bye.