Since my freshman year of high school, I was told that my résumé had to be the best. So, I joined every club I could. I made the highest grades, and I ensured I stayed in the Top Ten of my class. I volunteered in my spare time, and I worked a few jobs. I was positive that my résumé would stand out on all of my college applications…it did not. The problem was not that I had not done enough. The problem was that no college or university I applied to even asked for a copy of my résumé.
It felt like a complete waste. I had spent all of my high school years perfecting this piece of paper (remember, no more than one page), and no one even wanted to see it. Instead of joining clubs I was actually interested in, I just joined all of them. For two years, most of my time was spent on studying and the school dance team. Thankfully, I gave myself a small break my senior year. While I allowed myself to not be a member of the dance team, I still pushed to excel in academics and add more clubs/activities to my list. I figured if I was not dancing, I had to have more things to make up for it.
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy some of the activities. However, I wish I had not spent so many mornings waking up early to rush to a five-minute meeting, just so I could say I was a member. I wish I had not forced myself to go to games so I could stay a member of the Spirit Club. I wish I had been told that I did not need at least 100 hours of community service, and that I had spent more time volunteering at places I really enjoyed. I wish that when I thought about a new club or job, I thought about in terms of if I would have fun, not whether it would make me look better.
In terms of a résumé and skills, I cannot say I actually gained much. I learned a few things about working with teams, but I rarely honed my leadership skills. It is difficult to simulate the kinds of skills you need in “real-world” careers from minimum-wage high school jobs and a term as the secretary of the Spanish Club. Mostly, I am grateful I know how to write a résumé. While the jobs I apply for now don’t want to know about my high school years, I can at least include relevant information in a polished format. Even if you decide to forego all things high school, make sure you can create a clean résumé when it is actually necessary.
It is important to be involved in high school activities, but do not get caught up in adding another check on your résumé. Join clubs because they interest you, or maybe you just want a t-shirt. No shame. Play sports because you like to play the game. If you don’t like volunteering, don’t do it! Whatever it may be, if it makes you happy, please, please do it.
