Time is Money, But Can It Be More?

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

“Ugh, where is that snooze button?”

Before you know it, you’re finally clambering out of bed, but it’s already 2pm. Another

entire day wasted by binging shows and scrolling incessantly through your phone. The

summer is just withering away.

However, it can be savored.

It is often said that ‘time is money’, and thus your time shouldn’t be wasted. Instead,

your time should be spent - wisely - so, spend it on things you truly enjoy engaging in.

But… what?

This is where extracurricular activities [ECAs] come in. ECAs are an investment into

your own future for a myriad of reasons, but primarily, because you should pick

something you sincerely like doing. Moreover, as we all know by now, they can look

really good on your university application.

The thing is, why are universities so intent on everyone taking part in them? Can’t good

grades speak for themselves? Keep reading this article to delve into the reasoning

behind it all.

The WHAT:

ECAs are any activity performed by a student outside of the academic curriculum. This

can be partaking in sports, expressing yourself through the creative arts, hobby-oriented

clubs, and much more.

An ECA says something about who you are as a person; what you’re interested in,

dedicated to, and capable of. Thus, it is best to consider the attributes that come with

picking a specific ECA meticulously, as they can affect how you are perceived.

ECAs such as debate clubs can help improve public speaking skills and independent research proficiency, whilst being part of a basketball team promotes teamwork and

diligence. This demonstrates that you’d be a strong leader, or an earnest team player

(respectively).

An ECA should be something you’re keen to do, but if it can be an almost effortless

addition to your CV, ensure that it has what universities look for. Namely, a measurable

skill that you can improve, and one that’s relevant to your career path. For example,

obtaining higher Elo ratings in Chess, if you want to go into a field that requires problem-solving and logical thinking. Note that it is important for the skill to be measurable, as universities have to be able to see improvement in your chosen skill.

The HOW:

In all honesty, anything that you’re fond of doing can be viewed into an ECA, as long as

dedication to it and time spent on it can be clearly seen.

This can include:

- Completing free online courses (like https://www.tun.com/blog/harvard-free-courses/)

- Creating a podcast

- Starting a business

- Volunteering where there is a lack of support (e.g.: shelters or food banks)

- Interning somewhere relevant to your career (for example, a pharmacy or clinic if

you want to go into medicine)

- Or, creating a club to educate and connect with like-minded individuals.

Remember, the ECA you choose helps strengthen a skill and should be relevant to what

you want out of your future.

The way to do this is to just be dedicated to your ECA. The primary focus is illustrating

that you’ve regularly spent your precious time harnessing and perfecting a certain

quality; the awards and recognition that may come out of it are just an added bonus.

The WHY:

Time is money, but it can be more. This is due to the fact that people say “money can’t

buy happiness”, but as you’ll see: time can.

This is by conscientiously choosing where to invest it, as the time you spend on a

particular ECA can not only make a great addition to a CV, but can benefit your

personal life.

It may help expand social horizons, improve academic performance, provide an outlet

for you to express yourself, or even help you better understand what you enjoy and thus

what you want to do in the future.

Your ECA isn’t just something you do, it becomes a part of who you are.

Essentially, you should find something that you want to participate in. This will motivate

you, push you to your full potential, and bring out your highest level of performance.

Making sure of this is almost as if you’re receiving credibility for a simple hobby that you

maintain to escape, and then bring yourself back to the moment again.

Furthermore, your ECA should help develop a skill that is in line with your own desires

for your future, as only things that are relevant to the position will look good on your CV

when applying for something.

Therefore; have fun, but choose wisely.