Are Students Overwhelmed With Activities?

APAC, MUN, community service, coordinator positions… there are many activities students can participate in at AISG. These activities are not only for filling out CAS reflections, but for students to enjoy, release stress, and gain experience. There is a rising question, however, as to whether students at AISG are overextended and participating in too many activities. Are students well-scheduled and organized? Or are they just doing too many of them? Some students rush through meetings during lunch and after school. They are also busy participating in tournaments and traveling for events. Several students and teachers in our community provided their opinions about this topic.

Ben K., who is a sophomore this year, thinks AISG students aren’t overwhelmed with activities. “Students are the ones who choose to participate in certain activities; no one is forcing them to do it. However, I know a few people who participate in four seasons—three seasons of sports and one season of fine arts. They do seem exhausted sometimes, but they are forcing themselves into the situation. I only have a season of MUN and swimming, so I feel less overwhelmed than those people who participate in more activities than me. Participating in activities can certainly affect students academics as well because we miss classes.” An anonymous student goes even further, stating that AISG should provide more activities for students. “I think our school can provide further activities… It is true that participating in activities can impact one’s grades, because APAC trips and MUN trips are not short, and students miss classes during those trips.” On the other hand, Raven H. thinks AISG students are overwhelmed with school activities and said, “There are so many choices for students, so most likely, people don’t manage their time wisely and try to fit whatever they can in their schedule to fill in CAS reflections or to have better college apps.”

Mr. Tragert provided his opinion on this topic. He thinks that AISG students are overextending themselves sometimes, and participating in too many activities. “I don’t think there is a number of activities students are restricted to participate [in]. Students are lucky at our school, and they want to do well in life, by and large. They probably hear their teachers and counselors telling them to get involved in certain activities for their universities. They might have parents and older siblings telling them what they should and shouldn’t get involved in. There is an incredible amount of pressure. I think it’s more of a conversation about how schools should focus on how to find things students are passionate about and interested in. I currently think several students are participating in too many activities and some are not meaningfully contributing to those groups.”

Mr. Tragert added that he doesn’t think lunch meetings are a good idea. He claimed that lunch is a time to get some exercise, socialize with friends, and to take a break. “I wish ASA’s were set to be after school. Because we are in a system trying to get students to do so much, we are plugging every bit of free time with meetings, and I don’t think this is a good use of students’ time.”

I personally think that students in AISG participate in too many activities to some extent. I see a lot of my friends running to lunch meetings, staying after school two or three times a week (or even more), going to practices, and traveling. I understand the pressure that students need to go through while participating in these activities and I hope the new ASA policies can lead to a better environment for students.