Spring Break
The dangers of overdoing extracurricular activities
Rachael Morgan, Contributing Writer, rjmorgan@smu.edu
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: News
Katherine Tullos is SMU Student Body President, a member of Alpha Chi Omega, a political science and psychology double-major, and a two-time Mustang Corral leader. She is also a college senior aiming to go to law school. She visited a former professor of hers, Joe Kobylka, to talk about her future.
He made her pinky promise to not run for a position in student government or take on too many other activities in law school so that she can take time to enjoy the intellectual experience.
Kobylka said students today get their priorities out of order. They put more time in their extracurricular activities than they do in their academics. They lose out on the "clarifying and life-changing experiences that education should provide."
"You can get involved all throughout your life, but you can only do college for four years," Kobylka said.
In a few weeks, students will be facing exams, wrapping up their extracurricular activities and preparing for summer jobs and internships. The stress that comes from balancing academics, extracurricular activities and a social life can make students sick and feel rundown or burned out.
Why is Generation Y so involved? There are many reasons.
Students have been overly programmed and involved since they were children. They also face pressures in high school and college because extracurricular activities have become a part of the college and graduate school application process.
"Children can no longer be children," sociology professor Adrian Tan said.
Jennifer Jones, assistant dean of student life and director of student activities and multicultural student affairs at SMU, has seen her students overwork themselves and get sick. Some end up going home because they are so burned out. Jones has also sent students to the health center to get checked out.
"Stress is real and will make them physically ill," she said.
SMU junior Clayton Gregory is president of Program Council, SMU Comptroller, a McElvaney resident assistant and just started a Resident Life and Student Housing Summer Conferences internship. He typically works from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with classes inbetween. After work he takes a few hours to eat dinner and relax. He heads over to the library at 10 p.m. so that he can study until four or 5 am.
He made her pinky promise to not run for a position in student government or take on too many other activities in law school so that she can take time to enjoy the intellectual experience.
Kobylka said students today get their priorities out of order. They put more time in their extracurricular activities than they do in their academics. They lose out on the "clarifying and life-changing experiences that education should provide."
"You can get involved all throughout your life, but you can only do college for four years," Kobylka said.
In a few weeks, students will be facing exams, wrapping up their extracurricular activities and preparing for summer jobs and internships. The stress that comes from balancing academics, extracurricular activities and a social life can make students sick and feel rundown or burned out.
Why is Generation Y so involved? There are many reasons.
Students have been overly programmed and involved since they were children. They also face pressures in high school and college because extracurricular activities have become a part of the college and graduate school application process.
"Children can no longer be children," sociology professor Adrian Tan said.
Jennifer Jones, assistant dean of student life and director of student activities and multicultural student affairs at SMU, has seen her students overwork themselves and get sick. Some end up going home because they are so burned out. Jones has also sent students to the health center to get checked out.
"Stress is real and will make them physically ill," she said.
SMU junior Clayton Gregory is president of Program Council, SMU Comptroller, a McElvaney resident assistant and just started a Resident Life and Student Housing Summer Conferences internship. He typically works from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with classes inbetween. After work he takes a few hours to eat dinner and relax. He heads over to the library at 10 p.m. so that he can study until four or 5 am.
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