Should You Quit Your Extracurricular Activity?

By Brittany Loeffler on February 8, 2019

Nobody likes to quit things they started. Many people like to see it through until the end. However, sometimes that isn’t the case when it comes to extracurricular activities. There are those students who like to jam pack their schedules with classes and extracurricular activities so they get the most out of college and want to impress employers. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always work out in their favor. They feel overwhelmed and have trouble balancing their education with the extracurricular activity, which results in their grades dropping.

If you’ve been debating whether or not to quit your extracurricular activity, here are some things to think about before you do.

quit your extracurricular

via Pixabay

Reasons to Quit Your Extracurricular Activity

There are quite a few reasons why you may want to quit your extracurricular activity. The number one reason someone may quit an extracurricular activity is that it is taking up way too much of their time. When you first signed up, you probably figured it would be a great way to fill some time, but now you feel that it’s consuming your life and is hard to balance your responsibilities with the extracurricular with the rest of your education.

Another reason to quit is maybe you don’t like it as much as you thought you would. College is a great time to try new things and try to find yourself. That means trying things that you may end up not liking. It’s okay to quit your extracurricular activity if it isn’t what you thought it would be or is more of a hobby than gaining experience for the field you want to go into.

Choosing the Extracurricular Activity to Quit

If you find that you are looking to quit one of your extracurricular activities, you are probably part of quite a few. Once you decide it’s time to quit one, the next hardest part is deciding which one to quit. It’s best to identify which activity is the most beneficial to your personal and professional development for when you graduate college. This is the extracurricular you definitely do not want to quit. Choose one that doesn’t interest you very much or is the least important to you.

You may settle on the extracurricular activity that causes you the most stress. While this extracurricular activity may be an important one, if it is causing you to feel overwhelmed and taking you away from your education, it’s a sign you should quit.

How to Quit and Still Be on Good Terms

The members of your extracurricular activity may feel offended that you want to quit mid-way through the school year. They may take it personally that you don’t see the activity as important as they do. The best way to quit you extracurricular activity and leave on good terms is to sit down and explain to them why you are leaving. Let them know that you feel overwhelmed and want to focus on your studies or that you have to make some room for another activity. Chances are that they will understand and still be your friends even after you leave.

Quitting a Leadership Role

The hardest part of quitting an extracurricular activity is when you hold a leadership role. If you have been part of the club for a few semesters, chances are that you hold a role on their leader board. The only reason to quit a leadership role is if you truly do feel overwhelmed and need to free up some of your time.

Remember, a leadership role in an extracurricular looks great on resumes and shows that you can lead a group, which is a skill that employers look for.

The Benefits of Quitting Your Extracurricular Activity

There are benefits when you quit your extracurricular activity. It will free up a lot of time, which means you can focus on your grades and improve them. It also gives you time to look for something else that interests you more than the extracurricular you quit. If you were feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, you’ll feel a weight lifted from your shoulders when you quit your extracurricular activity.

Why It’s Completely Okay to Quit 

A lot of people have a bad view of people who quit something before they finish it. Don’t let this stop you from making a good decision for yourself. While college is about getting involved and developing personally and professionally, the main objective is to get good grades. If getting good grades and having more time to study means you have to quit your extracurricular, then that is perfectly okay.

This is the time not to let anyone’s opinion affect you. You should do what is best for you, even if that means quitting your extracurricular.

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