Importance of Co-curricular Activities to build up Self-confidence:
“These activities are the ones,
That build values in life,
These are the ones,
Can’t be taught in class,
Can only be an experienced.
Participating in these activities,
You develop feelings for fellow beings,
And install confidence in life.
These activities make you smart and wise.
Help you to strengthen your base fiber life,
Open your arms, come one and all,
Participate in college social life.”
In the 21st century, the world is changing fast. That is why, the conventional education curriculum which was developed in the early 20th century, has to pave the way to a new kind of education and learning which is related to our day to day living and plays a vital role to build up career and personality. Co-curricular activities are different from academic activities. It is true that much of our intellectual development happens, to a great extent, in the classroom but it is not enough to survive in life. Students can participate in co-curricular activities besides their academic activities. These activities give unique experience of life, these activities make one smart and wise. These activities encourage to expose hidden talents. It helps to the students to become aware of time management and more responsible. It helps the learners to be confident, problem solving and reasoning. When these activities blended with academics, it will help the students learn effectively. It will also give them an opportunity of thinking unusually and getting the innovative ideas and above all to be self-dependent.
There are many co-curricular activities like- debate, recitation, singing songs, dancing, public speaking, extempore speech, library work, social service etc. These are the activities through which a learner can strengthen the classroom learning as well as other activities both inside and outside the classroom.
The students who engage themselves in these co-curricular activities, can achieve better results in their academic ground. Their academic performance develop day by day as they learn how to balance their co-curricular activities with their academic pursuits. Moreover, they better understand how to manage their time effectively and also increase their interest in the classroom. So, it is essential to understand the importance of co-curricular activities in improving academic performance. In other words, co-curricular activities enable a learner to digest his academic studies and make him/her to be confident in every sphere of practical life. In this competitive era, co-curricular activities also play a vital role to build up a better career for the learners. Because it broadens new horizons for them. It makes the students feel happier, stronger, confident and more likely to lead a healthy and active life style.
Now we are passing a very critical situation. In a normal situation, Pre Covid-19, all extracurricular activities for the students took place in academic environment. Though it is not possible in this current pandemic situation, students can involve themselves virtually in many co-curricular activities. And it helps them to be fit mentally removing their mental stress. In this connection, Virtual club activities can be implemented during the pandemic. Through Google meet or Zoom, students can participate in interactive session where they can share their experience and receive suggestion from the experts. Now at this moment, they can more involve in many indoor activities like crafts, creative writings, gardening, graphic designs etc.
By the above discussion, we can say that the students engaging through co-curricular activities can learn essential values about different religions, events, cultures of national and international importance as well as discipline. They also learn to understand different values, social ethics, motivational skills, capability of accepting challenges, self-dependent, self-contentment etc. In order to make the new generation all-rounder and self-reliant, co-curricular activities should be integrated in educational sector compulsorily.
-Sanchita Nargees
Sr. Lecturer