Why CCAs are Actually Important

Some people love it, and some people hate it. 

I’m talking about co-curricular activities here. Or as literally everyone in Singapore calls it, “CCA.”.

Personally, I hated it. I never understood how some of my classmates could tell me that they looked forward to certain days because that’s when they had their CCA.

So if you ask me to describe what a CCA is, I’d say: “A CCA is an afterschool activity that requires students to go for out of social obligations and school rules. And most students see it as a waste of valuable 2-3 hours during their week.”

Now, it’s not like as if I actually had anything valuable to do… I was just a teenager. So of course I’d rather spend those 2-3 hours watching Netflix.

But as an adult these days, I can really see the value of having a CCA, and I’ve come to appreciate the idea of it.

So for my fellow rebels out there, don’t roll your eyes yet. Just let me explain myself, and hopefully, you’ll come to warm up to your CCA after this!

The Two Schools Toward CCAs:

The Rebels:

Now, first, we have us. 

We tried to resist them. We hid from the recruiters, tried to “lose” the sign-up forms, and told everyone about how we’d stay free because we’d never let those recruiters get us!

I’m still talking about joining a CCA club, by the way. Not about getting recruited by the military to fight in a war. And those recruiters are, of course, the teachers in charge. 

But honestly, why are we even rebelling against co-curricular activities? 

Because we’d rather do something else? Even though we don’t really have much going on for us as teenagers.

So we should be more positive! Like…

The Lovers:

Honestly, they’re like a ray of sunlight. They love life and everything it offers.

I guess this also explains why they look forward to their CCAs.

And I have a confession to make. Sometimes, I just wanted to be them. I wanted to be one of those holly jolly students who enjoy student life, knows half the school, and sees CCA as a fun time for self-improvement.

But I always managed to pull myself together before I floated over to the dark side…

Well, if that sounds like you, continue reading. And maybe you’ll resolve to be one after you find out about the benefits of having a CCA, like…

Gaining Valuable Experience

OK, OK. Don’t roll your eyes at me. This is the standard answer, I know.  

“JoiN a cCa. You’Ll GaiN So mUcH vaLuabLe eXPerIenCe.” 

That’s what your parents, teachers, seniors, and your guidance counsellors tell you, right? And I used to roll my eyes at that too.

But as an adult reflecting on what I went through during the years I spent on my school’s team, I can’t deny that spending time in a CCA will teach you values and give you character.

What other experience could teach you responsibility to your team, perseverance to keep going, discipline to show up, social skills, camaraderie, and a valuable skill that will make you a more layered individual so early in life?

Make More Friends!

Also, have you ever wanted to be one of those main characters who walks around high-fiving everyone? 

Well, joining a CCA could finally allow you to experience that!

When you join a CCA, you’re literally joining a club of people who think, behave, and like similar things to you. So it’ll be easy to make friends when you’re among “your kind” of people.

So getting new friends when you join a club is like one of those deals where you sign up and get a free gift!

It Develops Your Self-Esteem Too!

Lastly, I’m not saying you’ll be some “confidence god” after you join a club.

But it’s undeniable, right? Aside from gaining new friends, more confidence and self-esteem are two things you’ll probably get for free too after joining a CCA club.

And it makes sense that you’ll gain confidence once you pick up new skills you’ll need for your CCA, right? And more skills mean more capabilities, which equates to higher self-esteem! 

Conclusion

Choosing the right CCA will make or break the experience for you too!

Don’t just go along with the CCA most of your friends are choosing. Go with the right one for you!

When I went to a secondary school that was affiliated with the primary school, I continued with the CCA, which I already hated because of the social and personal obligations I felt to my teammates, parents, and coach. 

So don’t make the same mistake I made. Instead, consider my three points before deciding!

Do What You Love. If you just want to dance, then dance! Don’t even bother considering another club that you have no interest in. Why waste your time?

Do What You Want To Try! This is the time for you to try something new, and something you’ve always wanted to! The best part? It’ll probably be for free or at a price much lower than it would be if it wasn’t in school!

Do What’s Manageable For You. Some CCAs are more involved than others. For example, my Girl Scout friends had three days of CCA, while I in sports had two, and my other friend in the Art Club only had one day.

And you don’t have to join the school team if you don’t want to, although it would look better on your JC or Poly applications. However, you’ll probably have one extra free day, and it’s less commitment as well!

And if you’re worried about your grades taking a hit when you’re focusing on your CCA, SmileTutor’s tutor can help you!