[

“I hate cross country but I’m part of the team because I win races.” My friend, like many other Princeton Public Schools students, had fallen into the trap of doing things they didn’t like only because they look good on their resumé. While this may not be a problem in itself, this, combined with schoolwork and other obligations, perpetuates the trend of students overloading their schedules with activities they’re not passionate. This leaves them without enough time to do hobbies they actually like. Finding enjoyable extracurriculars is the most important step to not detesting your day- to-day life. After all, you won’t find time to both relax and participate in a large amount of activities that are unlikable. The best thing to do is find activities you like and pursue those.

Take sports as an example (although any extracurricular that you enjoy works). Most often, students only do the sports they’re actually good at. This mindset can lead people to do sports they’re not interested in, or not partake in athletics at all. Unfortunately, there’s a huge misconception around sports that you have to be great at them to enjoy them. The truth is, anyone can do an activity he or she likes, no matter that person’s skill level. It can be discouraging to try something you’re bad at, but being the worst person in the room at something is a benefit — you have literally everyone to learn from!

I started running cross country in seventh grade because my best friend was super athletic and I wanted to hang out with him more. I was nervous because I had never been a sporty kid — I had joined a basketball team a few years prior to this, and my only score of the season was in my own team’s basket — but I decided to try. It was hard work, and I was not very fast, but I loved it nonetheless. It was great to get away from school work to just run and

hang out with friends for an hour or two every day. I wish I could tell you that I magically became the fastest runner in the country as I continued the sport, but that never happened. The only reason I ever did cross country was to have fun, and where I am right now — the middle of the pack — is exactly where I feel the best.

The PHS cross country team has been a blessing during the pandemic because we were always able to get together and run. It doesn’t matter that I’m not one of the fastest runners and that I don’t run at every single meet. I have a great time on the team, no matter what. Again, pretty much any activity that takes you away from the stress of school will have mental health benefits, especially if you’re partaking in that activity in order to have fun. At the end of the day, cross country has brought me happiness over the last few years, and I’m glad that I wasn’t too afraid to try it in seventh grade.

To be completely honest, a little bit of pandering to colleges has slipped into my extracurriculars, so I’m not a perfect example, but I strongly encourage people to try new activities just because they seem fun. After all, the worst thing that can happen is you just deciding they’re not worth your time.