Once upon a time, there were two friends: A and B. A was a brilliant engineer, revolutionizing the computer industry with his engineering skills. B, while brilliant, was not as much of an engineer as A. However, B excelled as an orator, becoming the face of the company they built together, widely known as Apple. You might have guessed it: B is Steve Jobs. But who is A? What does he do? Well, A is the socially awkward Steve Wozniak, a computer science prodigy who preferred to stay out of the limelight.
The reason behind this difference is quite simple: their habits shaped by their extracurricular activities. Jobs socialized and learned oration at Reed College, while Wozniak, a self-described nerd, immersed himself in books. This historical example underscores the importance of extracurricular activities (ECAs). ECAs are activities outside the classroom that enhance our skills and provide recreation. There’s a misconception that ECAs only involve competitive events. However, any activity that demonstrates enthusiasm and dedication, such as decorating with mosaic arts, falls under ECAs. Why invest time in these activities when they may seem extraneous to studies? Because ECAs ignite passion, enthusiasm, and love for learning, bolstering mental health and confidence.
Activities like debates, musical groups, and team games foster socialization and leadership skills. Studies show that students engaged in ECAs often excel academically. Just look at the top students in your class—are they not often involved in debates, Olympiads, or athletics?
Consider ECAs as unconventional forms of study, highly valued in the AI-driven future. Imagine earning an International Robotics Olympiad Medal—such achievements may not be widely recognized locally but can lead to scholarships abroad and admission to prestigious universities. It’s time to embrace extracurricular activities for their transformative potential.
Now, I think you are convinced, but simultaneously, you are wondering how to take part. Now with the new amendments to the Cadet College rule every cadet must participate in at least one game and one stage event. But, I think it is not enough. Extra-curricular activities are not only competitions and can’t be done forcefully. Try to find your passion. If you like a particular musical instrument, then master it and perform in your house cultural show. If you like gardening, take part in the tree plantation event of cadet college, or even you can arrange something at your house. All of these build your character and show what you are as a person.
I have categorized ECAs into 4 categories and their opportunities in cadet college. They are as follows:
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- Social Service: Teaching and Mentoring, Environmental Initiatives, Community Volunteering, Fundraising and Blood Donation, Family Support.
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- Athletics and Sports: Competitive Sports (games, cross country, swimming), Track and Field.
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- Cultural, Literary, and Stage Activities: Debating and Public Speaking, Creative Arts (poetry, drama, painting), Writing and Calligraphy, and Musical Performances.
Cadet College, despite being a gold mine for extracurricular activities, still has room to improve in this regard. However, in recent times, cadets of Barishal Cadet College have achieved tremendous success. For example, Cadet Musahid of Class XI is set to participate in the International Math Olympiad, and Cadet Sazid and Cadet Wasee won awards at DUNMUN. This positive trend should be encouraged and expanded upon.
My concerns include the lack of participation by BCC cadets in uncommon events such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, Beamline for Schools by CERN, AI Olympiad, Philosophy Olympiad, Earth Science Olympiad, and most importantly, the Informatics Olympiad. However, recent achievements such as ex-cadet Ashik Chowdhury’s historic skydiving from the Stratosphere as the first Bangladeshi and the inauguration of the Robotics Club by our esteemed Principal offer inspiration and opportunities for growth.
Cadets involved in extracurricular activities are often happier, more confident, and unafraid of failure. Cadets should strive to uphold this spirit. By participating in diverse activities, they can overcome negativity and discover new aspects of themselves. Remember the word: PARTICIPATE.
Renowned actor Morgan Freeman once said, “When I was a teenager, I began to settle into school because I’d discovered the extracurricular activities that interested me: music and theater.” Look at his journey now he has won three Oscars for Best Actor.