November 27, 2007
Homework, dinner, TV, sleep.
Does this sound like a regular weekday to you? You may not be alone.
In January 2003, only half of 16- to 17-year-olds reported being engaged in any constructive activity outside of school, according to the National Institute of Out-of-School Time in a report fittingly titled “Making the Case: A Fact Sheet on Children and Youth in Out-of-School Time.”
This rate dropped alarmingly for 18- to 19-year-olds where only one-third interviewed cited any sort of extra-curricular activity.
Young people who do not participate actively in their communities or outside of the house miss important chances to grow positively and make a difference, two very important elements for future success and self-esteem.
Despite the lack of activity, more than half of the teens polled (54 percent) claimed that they wouldn’t watch so much TV or play nearly so many hours of video games if they had other things to do after school. TV-watching alone can take up four or more hours of the average highschooler’s day.
Thankfully, this does not have to be you.
But what are the alternatives? Many teens today claim that school keeps them busy.
Sometimes they opt for other common complaints: There’s not enough time in the day. It’s too much work. There’s nothing to do around here, anyway.
Or maybe they’re free spirits who don’t want to feel stifled by organized activity.
Fortunately, none of these issues is a problem once you involve yourself in local community events. You’ll be surprised at how much fun they can be and how much time you really do have to spend in an afternoon.
If your schedule really is crammed with too many homework assignments, there’s always the weekend. Instead of watching reruns of “Grey’s Anatomy,” why not check out a local arts fair with some friends?
OK, so now you may be thinking, “That’s great and all, but really, what is there to do?”
Well, if you’re stuck on ideas you can always follow these useful tips:
•Start small. You don’t need to do hours of research to find something interesting. Instead, just look at the bulletin postings that may already be in your school. Sports, clubs, theater. Get involved!
•Look for the long term. Don’t make this another one of those things you try for a bit and then quietly shelve as you get caught up in your schedule again. Look for a weekly thing. Volunteer. There are plenty of opportunities. If you’re interested in the arts, visit your local museum. There are plenty of areas for other interests as well, including the environment, sports, human services and music. A good place to start if you’re still confused is the Habitat for Humanity Web site.
•Do what interests you. Don’t make this a torturous affair. This should be something you look forward to every time you go. You know what you like. Work around that.
•Keep it fresh. Don’t stagnate into one thing if you find that, after a while, it’s just not working out. There are always new things going on, so don’t ever limit yourself to the mundane.
•Enjoy yourself. Corny, I know, but that’s what it all comes down to. Just don’t worry if things may seem scary the first few times. Chances are, if you start off not knowing much about it, you’ll enjoy learning along the way and meet energetic, new people. So relax and have fun.
If you’re still at a loss, there are always great sites like buckscountyalive.com that offer constant updates on the newest local events. So dust off your calendars, and get out there.
